Contact: Steve Jenkins, ext 6907

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given for the Chief Executive to conclude an appropriate legal Agreement with James Duke and Sons (Holdings) Limited in order to secure a package of off site highway works which will improve the site access and Station Road, and secure contributions which will fund the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy.

2. Reason

2.1 To secure improvements to the accessibility of the site for all modes of transport in line with Planning Policy Guidance Note 13.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The County Council could opt not to enter into a legal Agreement. This option has been rejected as it would deny the Council of the benefits of the highway works and additional funding.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted -None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Introduction

7.1 A full planning application has been submitted to Winchester City Council by James Duke and Sons (Holdings) Limited for the demolition of existing offices and light industrial buildings and refurbishment of remaining and replacement with new B1 and B2 buildings, plus 30 new residential dwellings.

7.2 The site currently comprises 2,943 square metres of industrial use and 1,047 square metres of office use. The planning application proposes to alter the total floor area to 2,487 square metres of industrial use and 2,582 square metres of office use. The proposed residential development of 30 dwellings is in addition to this floor area.

7.3 The City Council has refused planning permission and the developer has decided to appeal against that decision. The County Council has no objection to the proposed development subject to the conclusion of an appropriate legal Agreement to secure a package of off site highway works and contributions which will improve pedestrian, cycle, public transport and vehicular access to the site.

7.4 The planning appeal is to take place in November 2002 and it is the appellant's intention to attend the appeal with all highway matters concluded within appropriate legal Agreements.

7.5 The local Member, Councillor Mason, supports the proposals.

7.6 Although the City Council has refused this planning application it is content that all transportation matters have been agreed with the County Council.

8. Transport Proposals

8.1 The site currently gains access from Station Road by way of an informal priority junction. Station Road forms one arm of the B2177/B3035 roundabout and currently has limited pedestrian facilities which do not extend to the north-west.

8.2 The site is an existing light industrial/office site and is served by existing footways and informal crossings to the west which provide a link from the site to the town centre.

8.3 The planning application proposes 186 car parking spaces. Forty-five of these spaces will for the residential dwellings, this equates to 1.5 spaces per dwelling as recommended in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 - Housing. The remaining 141 spaces will serve the office and light industrial part of the development. The office element will have 86 spaces on the basis of one space per 30 square metres and the industrial element will have 55 spaces on the basis of one space per 45 square metres. The proposed parking provision is therefore in accordance with the County Council's Parking Standards and Strategy 2002.

8.4 In negotiation the developer has agreed to improve the sustainability of the site by implementing improvements to the local highway network which will enable improved access by all modes of transport.

8.5 The developer has agreed to improve the junction of the site access and Station Road. This improvement involves the provision of new footways and tactile paved dropped crossings on both sides of the site access, these footways and crossings will link into existing and improved footways on Station Road. The junction of the site access and Station Road will be designed to prevent vehicles turning right onto Station Road which becomes narrow after it passes the development frontage.

8.6 The developer has agreed to provide a new priority junction on Station Road at the junction with the proposed new estate road. This new junction will include new footways and tactile paved dropped crossings. This new junction will also involve a new splitter island to enable safe crossing for pedestrians.

8.7 The developer has agreed to improve and extend the footway on the eastern side of Station Road which will provide a pedestrian link to the existing footway alongside the B2177. The developer has also agreed to provide a new splitter island at the junction of Station Road and the B2177/B3035 roundabout, this will improve pedestrian safety at this crossing point.

8.8 In addition to the above physical improvements the developer has agreed to make a financial contribution of £65,000 towards the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy.

8.9 The developer has also agreed to implement an agreed Work Place Travel Plan for the site which will be secured in a legal Agreement with Winchester City Council to include targets and monitoring thereof.

9. Financial Implications

9.1 In the event of the proposal being implemented the applicant has agreed, at no cost to the County Council, to:

(i) carry out the above highway improvements which have been costed at £50,000;

(ii) make a financial contribution of £65,000 towards the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy; and

(iii) fund any measures which are identified in the Work Place Travel Plan to encourage the use of alternative modes of transport.

7364/SJJ