Contact: Chris Walton, ext 6906

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That approval be given for the Chief Executive to conclude an appropriate legal Agreement between Boots Properties plc and Hampshire County Council in relation to the implementation, at no cost to the County Council, of the approved highway works and the making of a financial contribution of £180,000 towards schemes identified and recommended in the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy and any other works as the County Council may reasonably require and will benefit the site.

(ii) That, subject to the completion of this Agreement, Rushmoor Borough Council be informed that there is no objection to the residential development at the former Boots Distribution Depot, North Lane, Aldershot.

2. Reason

2.1 To provide safe and adequate access to the proposed residential redevelopment and to secure funding for wider improvements to the accessibility of the site in line with Planning Policy Guidance Note 13 (PPG13).

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 the benefits of the off site transport contribution. A higher or lower level of transport contribution could have been considered, however the terms outlined in the report have been agreed by both parties as an appropriate level of contribution to improve sustainable travel modes.

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 The planning application has been submitted by Boots Properties plc to Rushmoor District Council for the erection of 475 dwellings, of which 119 will be affordable housing on the site of the former Boots Distribution Depot, North Lane, Aldershot (see attached location plan).

7.2 The site totals some 12.6 hectares to the east of North Lane, approximately 1.5 kilometres north-east of Aldershot town centre. It is bounded by Deadbrook Lane to the south, North Lane to the west and the Aldershot to Ash railway line to the north. The site is located within a primarily residential area.

7.3 The site is currently used as a distribution centre for Boots. The development of the site consists of a large warehouse of 38,000 square metres as well as lorry loading facilities. The main site access point is currently adjacent to the north side of the junction of North Lane and Deadbrook Lane.

7.4 The District Council supports this form of development on this site and has resolved to grant approval, subject to the conclusion of appropriate legal agreements.

7.5 The local Member, Councillor Kimber, has raised no objection in principle to the proposals.

8. Transport Proposals

8.1 Access to the site will be provided via two vehicular access points, one from North Lane and one from Deadbrook Lane. The North Lane junction will be in the form of a priority junction with a ghosted right turn lane and will incorporate a new right-turn lane serving the North Lane/Deadbrook Road junction. The access into the site from Deadbrook Lane will be in the form of a simple priority junction. Pedestrian and cycle access will be provided at both these points.

8.2 The proposed car parking provision for the site is 712, which equates to 1.5 spaces per dwelling. This is in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance Note 3 and the Hampshire Parking Standards and Strategy 2002.

8.3 The developer has produced and had approved by the County Council a full Transport Assessment. In order to accommodate the development generated traffic and provide safe access to/from the site, the developer has agreed to construct:

(i) a new junction access with North Lane including associated works to provide a parking lay-by and pedestrian refuge on North Lane. The works will also be incorporated with a ghosted right-turn lane at the North Lane/Deadbrook Lane junction; and

(ii) a new access serving the site onto Deadbrook Lane, incorporating improvements to the existing bus stops close to the proposed access.

8.4 The developer has also agreed to make a financial contribution of £180,000 towards the signalisation of the Redan Road/High Street junction, cycle route markings/signage and the upgrading of other bus stop facilities in the area (shelters and timetables) as broadly set out in the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (NEHTS).

8.5 NEHTS is a local transport strategy prepared in partnership with the district councils of Hart and Rushmoor to identify the transport needs of these areas and prepare sustainable solutions for meeting these needs. It aims to identify ways in which developments can contribute to the strategies and to prepare a programme of improvements to build on the existing transport provision.

8.6 The contribution will be spent in accordance with the requirements of NEHTS, PPG3, PPG13 and County Council, policies which seek to reduce the dependency on the car and provide choice for alternative means of travel.

9. Financial Implications

9.1 In the event of the planning permission being granted, the applicant has agreed, at no cost to the County Council to implement the highway works as previously identified at an estimated cost of £160,000.

9.2 The developer has also agreed to make a financial contribution of £180,000 towards enhancement and improvement of facilities for cyclists/pedestrians and public transport and influence the infrastructure to provide links between the site, local schools and the town centre, as described and recommended in NEHTS, and any other works as the Director of Environment may reasonably require and which will benefit the site, including the proposed improvements to the Redan Road/High Street signal junction.

7976/CJW