The Northumberland Estates Proposed Residential Development, Prudhoe Town Centre D/I/D/63558/603 Framework Residential Travel Plan September 2013
CONTROL SHEET CLIENT: PROJECT TITLE: REPORT TITLE: THE NORTHUMBERLAND ESTATES PROPOSED RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, PRUDHOE TOWN CENTRE FRAMEWORK RESIDENTIAL TRAVEL PLAN PROJECT REFERENCE: 63558 Issue and Approval Schedule: ISSUE 1 Name Signature Date Prepared by J Kerrison September 2013 Reviewed by D Kitchener September 2013 Approved by Revision Record: Issue Date Status Description By Chk App 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 This report has been prepared in accordance with procedure OP/P03 of W A Fairhurst Quality Assurance System.
CONTENTS Travel Plan 1.0 Introduction 2.0 A Travel Plan 3.0 Development Details 4.0 Accessibility by Sustainable Transport 5.0 Residential Travel Plan 6.0 Welcome Pack Appendices Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Site Location Plan Proposed Development Site & Surrounding Area Plan Walking and Cycling Isochrones Plan
1.0 Introduction 1.1. Fairhurst have been instructed to prepare this Framework Residential Travel Plan on behalf of The Northumberland Estates in connection with the proposed residential development in Prudhoe Town Centre. The location of the development is shown in Appendix A. 1.2. The purpose of this Travel Plan is to minimise car journeys by encouraging occupants of the residential development to use more sustainable modes of transport, e.g. walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing. 1.3. The development incorporates the provision of new pedestrian links and is close to existing public transport services such as bus and rail.
2.0 A Travel Plan 2.1. A Travel Plan is a package of measures implemented to reduce the number and length of car trips generated by a development. Travel Plans also support and promote more sustainable forms of travel by offering realistic transport choices and reducing the overall need to travel by car. 2.2. In contrast to employer travel plans which are destination focussed, residential travel plans are concerned with journeys made from a single origin to multiple and changing destinations. 3.0 Development Details 3.1. The development proposal is set out in Appendix B and the site and surrounding area are shown on the plan in Appendix C. The development includes approximately 70-80 residential dwellings adjacent to Broomhouse Lane. 3.2. The main vehicular access to the application site will be provided from Station Road, by means of a simple priority junction. 3.3. Private car parking for the houses will be in-curtilage and there will also be provision for visitors within the estate. 3.4. Pedestrian links are proposed to adjacent residential estates and to the new site access on Station Road. 3.5. Gradients on roadside footways will follow the gradient of the road, which varies according to the prevailing gradient in this part of Prudhoe up to a maximum of around 1 in 9 on the main north south route. The pedestrian routes/ facilities are as agreed with the County Council, taking account of the existing steep gradients in the central part of Prudhoe. 3.6. Access to the remaining sections of the back lane to the east and west of the proposed development would not be affected by the proposals.
4.0 Accessibility By Sustainable Transport Pedestrians 4.1. The residential site is adjacent to the town centre and there will be a comprehensive network of footpaths linking the site to the existing town centre facilities, surrounding residential areas and other local facilities. 4.2. All urban areas of Prudhoe are within a reasonable walking distance of the site (i.e. 2km as set out in PPG13) although there are gradients to overcome on some routes to the site. For example the most direct walking route to the site from the north of Prudhoe is via an up hill route on Station Road. 4.3. The Plan in Appendix D shows areas of Prudhoe that would be within a 20 minute walk (2km approx) of the site. This indicates that a significant proportion of the town is within reasonable walking distance. 4.4. All main roads in the vicinity of the site have a 30mph speed limit, are appropriately lit and have pedestrian footways. Cycling 4.5. All urban areas of Prudhoe and surrounding villages such as Stocksfield, Mickley, Ovingham, Ovington, Wylam, Stocksfield and Crawcrook are located within a reasonable cycling distance of the site, i.e. 5km 4.6. The plan in Appendix D identifies the potential cycle catchment area within a 10 minute cycle distance. Whilst it is acknowledged that the gradients of the local network surrounding Prudhoe are not particularly conducive to cycling, trips made in an east west direction are less affected by gradients. 4.7. There are no specific cycling facilities in the vicinity of the site, although cycling on local residential roads would be reasonable subject to overcoming steep gradients on some routes to the site. 4.8. National Cycle Route 72 runs adjacent to Prudhoe Railway Station approximately 1km cycling distance away. Heading east of the railway station, traffic free cycle
paths run along the south bank of the River Tyne providing a route into Wylam where cyclists have the option of following traffic free routes on the river s north bank towards Newburn or along the south bank towards Clara Vale. 4.9. Cyclists heading west can follow an on road cycle route from the railway station which crosses the River Tyne into Ovingham and continues along the north bank of the River Tyne towards Corbridge. Public Transport 4.10. The nearest bus stops to the site are located on Front Street as shown in Appendix C. 4.11. The bus services available from the above bus stops are shown in the following table: Bus s available from Front Street Number Destinations Mon - Fri Saturday Sunday Day Evng Day Evng Day Evng X85 Newcastle - Hexham via Blaydon, Ryton, Crawcrook, Prudhoe, Stocksfield Every 30 Mins Hourly Every 30 Mins Hourly Hourly Hourly 685 Newcastle Low Prudhoe via Blaydon, Ryton Crawcrook, Prudhoe, Prudhoe Railway Station Every 30 Mins Hourly Every 30 Mins Hourly Hourly Hourly 686 Ovington - Prudhoe via Ovingham, Wylam, Crawcrook Hourly 10:07-14:17 No No No No No X12 Stocksfield - Newcastle via Prudhoe, Crawcrook Ryton, Blaydon 1 AM 2 Evng No No No No 4.12. There are two frequent bus services adjacent to the site, which serve key destinations in the area, including Prudhoe, Prudhoe railway station, Hexham, Blaydon and Newcastle Monday - Sunday including evenings. There are three infrequent bus services available from Front Street which serve local destinations including Ovington, Wylam Crawcrook and Stocksfield.
4.13. Overall, there are approximately three daytime bus services per hour in each direction that presently stop on Front Street, reducing to two services per hour on evenings and Sundays. These services provide good connections to the town centre from the surrounding area and could be used for both shopping and employment trips. 4.14. Prudhoe railway station is located in Low Prudhoe, approximately 1km north of the site and reached via Station Road. 4.15. Prudhoe railway station is located on the Newcastle to Carlisle cross country line. The frequency of available services and also the first and last train times are shown in the table below. Prudhoe Railway Station s Number 48 Destinations Mon - Sat Sunday Newcastle - Carlisle via Blaydon, Wylam, Prudhoe, Stocksfield Every 60 mins Every 60 mins Route Mon - Sat Sunday Prudhoe- Eastbound Prudhoe - Westbound First 06:49 10:16 Last 23:14 21:16 First 06:44 09:30 Last 21:42 20:35 4.16. As noted above, the 685 bus service provides a route between Prudhoe railway station and the proposed development site. 4.17. Overall, the site is accessible by rail, although the journey to/from the railway station would also involve a 1km walk on a steep route or a bus journey. Summary 4.18. The development has access to cycle routes and would improve the pedestrian links and has good access to public transport services.
4.19. The central location is ideal in terms of transport policy objectives that require new developments to be situated in sustainable locations, well related to existing settlements. 4.20. The development is well located for walking trips within Prudhoe, although there are steep gradients on some routes to the site. The development will provide new links to surrounding residential areas. 4.21. Urban areas of Prudhoe and surrounding villages are within a reasonable cycling distance and measures to encourage cycling will be included within the development. However, there are no specific facilities for cyclists on the local highway network and gradients in the area will deter some cycling trips. 4.22. There are bus stops close to the site with regular bus services that provide good connections to the town centre from the surrounding area. 4.23. Rail journeys to the site are possible but few trips would be expected as the station is not conveniently located, particularly for shopping trips. 5.0 Residential Travel Plan 5.1. The following sections set out a range of measures to be included in the Travel Plan for this development. 5.2. Travel Plans for employment developments would normally have an appointed person to act as Travel Plan Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator would be responsible for implementation and maintenance of the Plan, monitoring progress of the Plan, liaison with public transport operators and the Planning/Highways Authorities, liaison with adjacent businesses to explore opportunities for co-operation in achieving the aims of the Plan, and production of annual monitoring reports for the Occupier and the Planning/Highways Authorities. 5.3. For residential developments, once the development is complete and all the properties sold, the developer has no further input. Therefore, unless there is a
management/maintenance company managing the site, which is unlikely for the application site, it is difficult to appoint a Travel Plan Co-ordinator with day to day knowledge of the development and the means to influence resident travel behaviour. The best way forward to achieve the aims of the Plan is therefore to: Provide measures at the outset to reduce the need to travel and encourage sustainable travel. Encourage residents to buy into the Plan when they first occupy a property and make a commitment to reduce single occupancy car use. 5.4. Encouragement to residents on occupation would be in the form of a Welcome Pack to be put in each residential property, containing information relating to sustainable travel and the location of local facilities. 6.0 Welcome Pack 6.1. The Welcome Pack would contain information about the local area, e.g. location of and distances to local shops, schools, Post Offices, GP surgeries, hospitals, banks, libraries, parks, attractions etc., and also copies of the most recently published bus timetables, and a copy of the Northumberland Cycling Map. 6.2. In addition to a copy of the local Cycling Map, each Welcome Pack could contain a discount voucher for a local cycle retailer. This would be negotiated and paid for by the Developer. 6.3. The Developer would also include a booklet of pre paid bus tickets in each Pack to encourage residents to trial local bus services subject to this being reasonably negotiable with local bus companies. The length of the trial period would be agreed following discussions with the bus companies but would be for at least one week. 6.4. The cycle voucher and bus tickets would be a tangible commitment by the Developer towards encouraging new residents to use sustainable modes of transport.
6.5. The Welcome Pack would also direct residents to websites for the following: Local Amenities - Local supermarkets offering internet shopping, since this would reduce car trips; Public Transport Links to websites where residents could obtain the most up to date timetable information, e.g. www.traveline.org.uk which would direct residents to the most up to date bus timetables, and http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/, which would enable residents to obtain the latest rail information; Car Sharing Websites that co-ordinate car sharing e.g. http://www.nationalcarshare.co.uk/, http://www.liftshare.org/, and http://www.carshare.com/ since this would facilitate car sharing within the development. Residents could register on websites such as these to be matched up with other people making similar journeys. Car sharing reduces the number of cars on the road, thus reducing congestion, pollution and other environmental impacts, while at the same time saving participants money since they can share travelling costs; Cycling The UK s National Cyclists Organisation website www.ctc.org.uk. This website contains information about cycle clubs and groups, cycle training and advice for safe cycling. This will enable those who currently do not cycle to develop the skills and confidence to do so; and Local Attractions Nexus provide information on attractions accessible via public transport and is available online. By providing residents with the option to travel to these attractions by public transport, it will allow them to make informed choices about their modes of travel, and hopefully reduce the numbers who choose to travel by car. 6.6. The Travel Plan Officer at Northumberland County Council is Sarah Brierley, her contact details are as below: Sarah Brierley, Northumberland County Council
County Hall Morpeth Northumberland NE61 2EF Tel: 01670 533966 Email: sarah.brierley@northumberland.gov.uk
APPENDIX A
A695 Prudhoe Railway Station Castlefields Drive B6395
APPENDIX B
ey Site boundary Signal Controlled Pedestrian Crossing Bus Stops Castlefields Drive
APPENDIX C
APPENDIX D