As per the following announcement……..

WD/D/17/000986 – Vearse Farm, Bridport.

This is the formal response of the County Highway Authority.

Dorset County Council as Highway Authority (HA) were involved in the original consultations and the examination in public for the WDDC Local Plan that identified this site for development.

As a consultee of the Planning Process the HA has been involved in evaluating the highway submissions and requirements that form part of the Transport Assessment (TA) in respect of the County Roads and, with Highways England, considering impacts and requirements for the A35 Trunk Road.

As such there are various internal consultations with various Teams within Highways that look to establish the County’s position with regards to the Development proposals, these include the Improvements and Design Teams, Sustainable Transport, Road Safety, Road Management and the Development Liaison Teams.

TA’s are drawn up under guidance issued by the Department for Transport and the Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation – in that regards the submission follows those guidelines and conforms to the format and principles that need to be considered and explored. Items considered are wide ranging and include various capacities of carriageways and junctions, existing conditions, pedestrian routes and desire lines, non-motorised traffic, sustainable transport, general highway arrangements and highway safety.

The submitted Transport Assessment (TA), prepared by the applicant’s highways consultants, considers the impact that a development including residential, commercial and school provisions on the highway network in the vicinity of the site and parts of the broader network. It considers the sustainability of the development, in terms of accessibility to and from the site.

It is proposed that there are two primary vehicular access to the site and these will be provided via a new priority junctions onto the B3162. Although the application as a whole is for outline planning permission, these two accesses are for approval at this stage and not reserved for subsequent consideration. The HA have had full regard to the suitability of these accesses as part of their consideration of this application.

The submitted indicative site layout plan indicates a road layout that is suitable for public adoption under Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980 and fully embrace the principles suggested by Manual for Streets, providing a safe and attractive place for all road users. Through good design and appropriate traffic calming measures, speeds of 20mph or less should be achieved across the estate layout. It also indicates that quality pedestrian and cycle permeability is achievable, linking to the Bridport’s existing network. These links are through to Magdalen Lane and upon future development to Pine View and Coronation Road. These pedestrian and cycle facilities are provided to the boundary of the current application site to allow a future connection to be made to Pine View and Coronation Road. It is accepted that the plans are currently indicative.

TRICS is the national standard for trip generation analysis and employs a system of site selection filtering that enables users to simulate site scenarios through a number of progressive stages and to calculate vehicular and multi-modal trip rates based on these selections. The submitted TA has, in the opinion of the County Highway Authority, complied with the recommendations of the TRICS Good Practice Guide 2013 and produced a robust daily trip generation for the proposed development.
The TRICS data outputs are attached to the TA and provide the empirical evidence to substantiate the trip rates used and the approach the Transport Assessment uses base survey year to produce a baseline of highway capacity against which the impact of the proposal can be considered. It then looks at scenarios – for forecast years with committed development and the development proposals within the context of forecast years.

The TA considers the impact of these new trips upon several junctions in detail – together with the surrounding highway network, new junctions and site accesses to the main development – to check whether they will still function within acceptable operational parameters, using industry standard design and modelling software. The conclusion reached within the TA is that all of the junctions assessed will operate within capacity in the forecast design year for the proposed development. The TA confirms that the local highway network has sufficient capacity to safely accommodate the additional development traffic movements. The HA concurs with this view.

The submission is supported by a Framework Travel Plan which seeks to encourage the use of more sustainable modes of transport for journeys within five years from the occupation of 50% of the development. This will be achieved by the implementation of a package of measures including the appointment of a travel coordinator, the distribution of travel information packs, the use of public transport and cycling and promoting the use of car sharing schemes.
In addition, the site is in a sustainable location with an excellent range of services within walking and cycling distance. The addition of a local centre, new leisure/walking routes and local play areas within the site also mean that existing residents on this side of town will also benefit from having new services located close by, thus saving some of their travel movements which may have been undertaken by car.

To sum up, the County Highway Authority considers that the submitted Transport Assessment is satisfactory and robust. Whilst it is accepted that the proposal will obviously increase traffic flows on the highway network the residual cumulative impact of the development cannot be thought to be “severe”, when consideration is given to paragraphs 29 to 36 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

All of these matters have been carefully considered by the HA and, following the submission of revised and updated information, there are no reasons for objection and the following revised decision is issued.

With regards to The Equality Act the County Highway Authority’s position is as follows:-
The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act with the aim of simplifying the law, removing inconsistencies and making it easier for people to understand and comply with. It also strengthened the law in important ways, to help tackle discrimination and inequality. The public sector Equality Duty (section 149 of the Act) came into force on 5 April 2011. The Equality Duty applies to public bodies and others carrying out public functions. It supports good decision-making by ensuring public bodies consider how different people will be affected by their activities, helping them to deliver policies and services which are efficient and effective; accessible to all; and which meet different people’s needs.
All parties involved in the design and construction of public infrastructure must have due regard to the Equality Act 2010 and the Equality Duty. This includes Developers and Designers.
In particular, Designers must refer to Inclusive Mobility (DfT, 2005 revision) and Guidance on the Use of Tactile Paving (DfT, 2007 revision) to ensure that their designs are inclusive.

All matters relating to the A35 Miles Cross Junction and other Trunk Road matters are under the jurisdiction and direction from Highways England.

COUNTY HIGHWAY AUTHORITY RECOMMENDATION FOR APPLICATION WD/D/17/000986.

The County Highway Authority raises NO OBJECTION, subject to the following conditions to cover the detailed and outline parts of the application and the formulation of a Section 106 Agreement to include relevant highway matters:-

Detailed Highways Conditions :

Before any development is commenced, other than the creation of this access or accommodating works on site, the first 20 metres of the eastern vehicle access to the B3162, together with the associated visibility splays must be laid out and constructed to a specification submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and accordance with the submitted drawings.
Reason: To ensure that a suitably surfaced and constructed access to the site is provided that prevents loose material being dragged and/or deposited onto the adjacent carriageway causing a safety hazard and that suitable visibility is provided to the County Road.

Before any dwelling is occupied the new pedestrian link from the site to Magdalen Lane, as indicated on the submitted drawings, shall be constructed to a specification submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority.
Reason: To ensure that a suitably surfaced and constructed access to the site is provided.

Before 300 dwellings are occupied on site the first 20 metres of the western vehicle access to the B3162, together with the associated visibility splays, must be laid out and constructed to a specification submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and accordance with the submitted drawings.
Reason: To ensure that a suitably surfaced and constructed access to the site is provided that prevents loose material being dragged and/or deposited onto the adjacent carriageway causing a safety hazard and that suitable visibility is provided to the County Road.

Before the development hereby approved is commenced a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) must be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The CTMP must include:
• construction vehicle details (number, size, type and frequency of movement)
• a programme of construction works and anticipated deliveries
• timings of deliveries so as to avoid, where possible, peak traffic periods
• a framework for managing abnormal loads
• contractors’ arrangements (compound, storage, parking, turning, surfacing and drainage)
• wheel cleaning facilities
• vehicle cleaning facilities
• Inspection of the highways serving the site (by the developer (or his contractor) and Dorset Highways) prior to work commencing and at regular, agreed intervals during the construction phase
• a scheme of appropriate signing of vehicle route to the site
• a route plan for all contractors and suppliers to be advised on
• temporary traffic management measures where necessary
The development must be carried out strictly in accordance with the approved Construction Traffic Management Plan.
Reason: to minimise the likely impact of construction traffic on the surrounding highway network and prevent the possible deposit of loose material on the adjoining highway.

No development must commence on any phase until details of the access, geometric highway layout, turning and parking areas have been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.
Reason: To ensure the proper and appropriate development of the site

Before the development hereby approved is occupied or utilised, the submitted Travel Plan must be implemented and operational.
Reason: In order to reduce or mitigate the impacts of the development upon the local highway network and surrounding neighbourhood by reducing reliance on the private car for journeys to and from the site.

The development hereby permitted must not be occupied in any phase until a scheme showing precise details of the proposed cycle parking facilities for that phase must be submitted to the Local Planning Authority. Any such scheme requires approval to be obtained in writing from the Local Planning Authority. The approved scheme must be constructed before the development of that phase.

No development must commence on any phase until details of the access, geometric highway layout, turning and parking areas have been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.
Reason: To ensure the proper and appropriate development of the site

Outline Highway Conditions :-

No development shall commence on any phase until details of the access, geometric highway layout, turning and parking areas have been submitted to and agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.
Reason: To ensure the proper and appropriate development of the site

Before the development hereby approved is occupied or utilised, the submitted Travel Plan must be implemented and operational.
Reason: In order to reduce or mitigate the impacts of the development upon the local highway network and surrounding neighbourhood by reducing reliance on the private car for journeys to and from the site.

The development hereby permitted must not be occupied in any phase until a scheme showing precise details of the proposed cycle parking facilities for that phase must be submitted to the Local Planning Authority. Any such scheme requires approval to be obtained in writing from the Local Planning Authority. The approved scheme must be constructed before the development of that phase is commenced and, thereafter, must be maintained, kept free from obstruction and available for the purpose specified.
Reason: To ensure the proper construction of the parking facilities and to encourage the use of sustainable transport modes.

INFORMATIVE NOTES:
Developer-Led Infrastructure
The applicant is advised that, notwithstanding this consent, if it is intended that the highway layout be offered for public adoption under Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980, the applicant should contact Dorset County Council’s Development team. They can be reached by telephone at 01305 225401, by email at dli@dorsetcc.gov.uk, or in writing at Development team, Dorset Highways, Environment and the Economy, Dorset County Council, County Hall, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ.
Public rights-of-way
The attention of the applicant is drawn to the existence of public Rights-of-Way that crosses the site. This permission does not authorise any interference with or obstruction of the footpath. If the diversion or stopping-up of the path is desired, application should be made to appropriate authority.

SECTION 106 AGREEMENT HIGHWAY DETAILS :-
• On completion of the new vehicular eastern access the developer shall enter into an agreement to fully fund and provide traffic calming facilities on the B3162 in order to maintain highway safety. These works should be as the submitted drawings or as other details of which shall be first agreed with the LPA and HA of the same value as those works on the submitted drawings.

• On completion of the new the footway/cycle access to Magdalen Lane the developer shall enter into an agreement to provide and fully fund a traffic calming feature at that point to better assist non-motorised movements as the submitted drawing.

• On completion of 150 dwellings the developer shall enter into an agreement to provide and fully fund the minor improvement at the mini-roundabout junction of the B3162 West Allington/North Allington junction and for the upgrade and improvement of the existing Public Footpath linking Magdalen Lane to the Town Centre via the Dreadnought Trading Estate to a public Bridle path for the use of pedestrians and cyclists.

• The creation of pedestrian/cycle links to Pine View and Coronation Road together with ancillary works for these routes shall be constructed and fully funded by the developer in conjunction with the Construction Programme and Phased Development of the site.

IAN MADGWICK IEng MCIHT
Transport Development Liaison Engineer
Transport Development Management
Dorset County Council – County Hall – Colliton Park – Dorchester – Dorset – DT1 1XJ
(01305) 224265 – i.madgwick@dorsetcc.gov.uk – www.dorsetforyou.com/395972