The transport planning input to these projects typically involves the production of an initial Access Appraisal, scoping our input with the Local Highway Authority and in some instances National Highways, designing the site access arrangements and the production of a Transport Assessment and Travel Plan. Larger projects may also require the production of a Transport Chapter for an Environmental Impact Assessment. Our input usually requires us to review the internal layout of the scheme to ensure that commercial vehicles can enter, manoeuvre around and exit the site safely.
Sustainable access to these types of developments is a key factor in gaining planning permission. The Transport Assessment for such schemes also considers the ability to access the development proposals by sustainable modes of transport. This is typically undertaken via the production of walking, cycling and bus journey time isochrones using specialist GIS software, but now also includes for the completion of the Active Travel England Planning Application Checklist.
If any shortfalls in sustainable access are identified, we are required to suggest improvements to these sustainable connections to the site. This involves the identification of improvements to footways, upgrades of Public Rights of Way, the identification/provision of new sections of cycle infrastructure and negotiations with local public transport operators as to how to improve bus access to the site. The level of improvements does however need to be commensurate with the size of the scheme and be Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) compliant. Usually with these types of schemes, a capacity assessment of the highway network is also undertaken.
The design of any mitigation measures, whether that be improvements to sustainable access to the site or any off-site junction improvements, needs to agree with the Local Highway Authority.
The following is a selection of commercial developments that Prime has been involved with:
- Stanworth Land, Finnington Lane, Chorley – 119,490 sqm
- Kingmoor, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham | 93,019 sqm
- The Oaks, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham | circa 7,340 sqm
- Dragon Packaging, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham | 1,696 sqm
- F Lloyd, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham | 3,952 sqm
- Bridgeway Centre, Wrexham Industrial Estate, Wrexham |8,052 sqm
- Peblig Industrial Estate, Caernarfon | 16,287 sqm
- Severn Bridge Industrial Estate, Caldicot, Monmouthshire |3,033 sqm
- Astmoor Industrial Estate, Runcorn, Halton |3,100 sqm
- Redevelopment of Drayton Manor Business Park, Staffordshire | 15,677 sqm
- Land adjacent to Ashton Road, Bredbury Industrial Estate, Stockport | 70,606 sqm
- Europa Way, Europa Business Park, Bolton |open storage
- Moss Bank Road, Widnes, Merseyside | up to 185,806 sqm
- Garston Industrial Estate, Liverpool | 42,500 sqm
- Somerford Quarry, Congleton, Cheshire East
- Hay Hall Business Park, Birmingham | 25,225 sqm
- ARK Phase 2, Trafford Park, Manchester | 3,972 sqm
- Manston Industrial Estate, Leeds | 4,645 sqm