Allocations DPD Discussion and Consultation Document

Consultation on Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Documents

1. Thank you for inviting the Highways Agency to comment on the Allocations and Development Management Development Plan Documents for Rochford District Council.

2. As you may have noted from our previous correspondence, the Highways Agency is an executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT). We are responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's motorway and all-purpose trunk road network, collectively known as the Strategic Road Network (SRN) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport.

3. In spatial planning and development control terms, we have a duty to safeguard the operation of the motorway and trunk road network as set out in the DfT circular 02/2007 (Planning and the Strategic Road Network). The circular encourages the Highways Agency to work co-operatively with Local Planning Authorities within the framework of the Government's policies for planning, growth areas, regeneration, integrated transport and sustainability. We look to your Council's Local Development Framework (LDF) to promote strategies, policies and land allocations which will support alternatives to the private car.

4. In the case of Rochford there are no trunk roads within the District, although there are two strategic corridors namely the A13 and A127/A1159 which connect into the M25 motorway network at junctions 30 and 29 respectively. Sections of these routes are currently heavily congested, particularly during peak periods, and operate under considerable levels of network stress. Therefore it is important to the Highways Agency that the impact of development proposals in the Rochford area is considered within the context of future impact on the M25 and the A13 Trunk Road.

5. Please see below our comments on the individual Development Plan Documents.

Allocations Development Plan Document

6. The Highways Agency is concerned that the majority of sites included in the DPD appear to be in areas with limited access to sustainable transport modes, therefore resulting in higher levels of car usage and ultimately increased impact on the strategic road network. We note from the individual Site Allocation Assessments at Appendix A to the DPD only a handful of sites were considered to either;

'promote more sustainable transport choices both for people and moving freight' or

'promote accessibility to jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services by public transport, cycling and walking'.

We would therefore question whether some of the sites are in accord with Government sustainable development policies that amongst other things seek to promote travel by means other than private car, and reduce carbon emissions.

7. It is the Highways Agency view that in advance of this DPD moving to its next stage, the traffic and transport implications of sites to be taken forward are assessed to an appropriate level of detail. This assessment should be in accordance with the advice issued to Local Planning Authorities in the Eastern Region by the Highways Agency in August 2007, the Department for Transport Circular 02/2007 Planning and the Strategic Road Network and the DfT Guidance on Transport Assessment (March 2007). It is also the Highways Agency view that Local Development Documents that have not been the subject of an assessment of potential transport impact may be regarded as unsound on the grounds of insufficient evidence base.

Development Management Development Plan Document

8. The Highways Agency consider that Policy DM1 should include a criteria relating to housing being sited in areas where access to day to day facilities are available by public transport, walking and cycling, thereby reducing the need to travel by private car.

9. As stated in the Transport section of the DPD, the District does suffer from high levels of private car ownership and dependency, which results in congestion and pollution. The Highways Agency therefore consider that Policy DM26 would be enhanced by the inclusion of a requirement for an assessment of the potential impact of development on the highway network, together with mitigation measures that may be required. The supporting text should include reference to the DfT Guidance on Transport Assessment (2007).

10. The Highways Agency also consider that Policy DM26 could be further enhanced by the requirement for a Travel Plan to be considered as part of traffic management.

11. I trust you will find our comments helpful, but please do not hesitate to get in touch with any questions.