Accessibility to New Development

8.4 PPG13 requires local planning authorities to manage actively the pattern of urban growth to make the fullest use of public transport and focus major generators of travel demand near to major transport interchanges. The main sites allocated in this Local Plan have been the subject of a sustainability appraisal which has taken this into account. However, these sites could be generators of significant traffic movements which may have an impact on the local highway infrastructure and/or the environment. It is therefore expected that, when planning permission is sought and where appropriate, proposals on these and other major sites will be the subject of Transport Assessments.

8.5 Subject to advice from central government the Borough Council will seek a transport assessment for development which exceeds particular thresholds. The thresholds are set out below.

POLICY T1: TRANSPORT ASSESSMENTS

Proposals for major new development, including extensions to existing development, should be accompanied by a Transport Assessment demonstrating how the proposal seeks to minimise the need to travel and encourage journeys by sustainable modes. The Transport Assessment should also demonstrate what infrastructure or service improvements are needed if the development cannot be accommodated within the existing transport network. The thresholds for a Transport Assessment are:

Applications for other development which, in the opinion of the local planning authority, are likely to have a significant impact on travel, will also be required to submit a transport assessment.

8.6 In considering proposals for new development, the Borough Council will place a high priority on making provision for the most sustainable and environmentally acceptable means of travel, especially in the towns and Rural Service Centres. The County Structure Plan states that the county council will develop transport strategies and programmes based on a hierarchical approach to different modes of travel. The Borough Council will expect developers to have regard to this hierarchy in considering site access.

POLICY T2: HIERARCHICAL APPROACH TO SITE ACCESS

Proposals for development, other than residential, should make provision for site access adopting the following priorities:

• i) walking and cycling, and public transport (including where appropriate community buses and rail freight);
• ii) taxis and private hire vehicles
• iii) essential motor vehicles (to support economic activity and where there is no reasonable alternative), heavy goods vehicles and powered two-wheelers; and
  iv) other motor vehicles

8.7 Most land uses give rise to the need for movement to and from the site concerned. The site access should not cause highway problems, and traffic movements arising from the proposal should be accommodated on the wider highway network with a minimal environmental impact. The Borough Council will carefully consider the location of developments to make sure they do not create such problems. Access and movement will be assessed in terms of suitability for vehicles (including public transport), cyclists, pedestrians and disabled people. Where off-site improvements are reasonably required to achieve an effective choice of travel methods and/or to enhance road safety, then these should be provided as part of the development proposed and in accordance with Policy IM1.

8.8 Congestion in Haverhill and Bury St Edmunds is not a significant problem, except at peak times. However, as the towns continue to grow, the areas affected are likely to increase. The construction of new roads to cater for the increased demand is not necessarily a sustainable solution. The Borough Council will therefore encourage existing and new major generators of traffic to prepare Travel Plans to ensure that genuine travel choices are available to and from proposed development. Conditions may be attached to planning permissions requiring occupiers to implement Travel Plans with agreed targets. Preparation of these plans will be mandatory for all non-residential developments over the thresholds for Transport Assessments set out in Policy T1. In other circumstances where the thresholds for Assessments are not breached but, in the opinion of the Borough Council, there would be significant impact on the road network as a result of the proposal, developers will also be asked to submit a Travel Plan.

8.9 Where appropriate, planning obligations will be used to secure more sustainable alternatives necessary to implement the Travel Plan, including local traffic management measures and regulations to prevent on-street parking problems occurring. Planning Guidance will be prepared on the requirements of Travel Plans.

POLICY T3: TRAVEL PLANS

Proposals for non-residential development above the thresholds for Transport Assessments must be accompanied by a Travel Plan which encourages the use of sustainable modes of travel and enables agreed modal split targets to be achieved.

Proposals for development which does not exceed the threshold for a Transport Assessment will also require a Travel Plan if it would either:-

• i) generate significant amounts of travel in areas which the local planning authority considers to be of environmental importance; or
  ii) have a significant traffic impact on areas identified in the Local Transport Plan for the reduction of road traffic, or the promotion of public transport, walking and cycling.

Travel Plans should have regard to the content of the Supplementary Planning Document and planning permission, where necessary, will be subject to planning obligations and/or planning condition to secure the implementation of the travel plan.