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 between Banner Homes and Hampshire County Council in order to secure a package of off site highway works and contributions which will improve Salters Lane, Winchester, the Harestock Corner junction, Stockbridge Road itself, and secure contributions which will fund pedestrian, cyclist and public transport improvements in the vicinity of the site.

2. Reason

2.1 To provide safe and adequate access to the proposed residential development 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 not secure the required off site highway works and would deny the Council the benefits of the off site highway 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 A full planning application has been submitted to Winchester City Council for the erection of 58 new residential dwellings and a new access on land off Salters Lane, Winchester (see attached location plan). The site is currently in use as the garden of a private dwelling known as Salters.

7.2 The Salters site is located on the north-west edge of Winchester and is currently accessed from a private drive at the junction of Stockbridge Road, Salters Lane and Harestock Road. This junction is known as the Harestock Corner junction. The site is bounded by Salters Lane to the west, the rear of Salters Acres to the east, Stockbridge Road to the north, and the rear of properties on Dean Lane to the south.

7.3 Winchester City Council has recently resolved to grant planning permission for the development, subject to the conclusion of appropriate legal agreements.

7.4 The local Member, Councillor Mrs Dickens, has raised no objection in principle to the proposals but is keen to ensure that the off site transport contribution is spent in the local area.

8. Transport Proposals

8.1 The planning application proposes 58 new residential units and 94 car parking spaces. Advice in PPG3 requires local authorities to ensure that residential developments are provided with an average of 1.5 car parking spaces per unit, which this proposal exceeds slightly. Should more than 1.5 spaces per unit be provided at some sites this must be offset by much less parking in accessible areas. Several recent residential developments in Winchester City Centre have been provided with no car parking at all.

8.2 The Salters site currently gains access from a private drive at the Harestock Corner junction. Harestock Corner is a staggered crossroads junction of Stockbridge Road, Salters Lane, Harestock Road and the existing private drive access to the site.

8.3 The developer has agreed to improve access to the site by implementing improvements to the local highway network which will enable improved site access by all modes of transport. The new access will be from Salters Lane. This will be the only vehicular access and the existing vehicular access at Harestock Corner will only be used by pedestrians and cyclists.

8.4 The developer has also agreed to carry out an environmentally sensitive widening of Salters Lane. It will be widened to 4.8 metres between the new site access and Stockbridge Road, this will ensure that a large car and service vehicle can safely pass one another. This widened section and the junction of Salters Lane and Stockbridge Road will be resurfaced and provided with improved kerbing and visibility splays.

8.5 It has been agreed that the developer will also carry out minor improvements to the surfacing of the three existing passing bays on Salters Lane between the new site access and Dean Lane. This improvement will ensure the safety and free flow of traffic on Salters Lane.

8.6 The developer has also offered to provide new street lighting at the junction of Salters Lane and Dean Lane.

8.7 The developer has also agreed to convert the existing vehicular access to the site to a shared use pedestrian/cycle route. This route will pass through the development site and link into the adjoining Linden Homes site and beyond into Dean Lane. This facility will therefore provide a safe and attractive route for pedestrians and cyclists from the development to the shops and facilities at the recently improved Stoney Lane junction.

8.8 The shared use pedestrian and cycle route through the site will link into a new 1.8 metre footway at the Harestock Corner junction. The developer has agreed to provide this new footway between the end of the pedestrian/ cycle route and the existing footway in Salters Acres. The new footway will incorporate a tactile paved dropped kerb crossing point which will assist pedestrians crossing Stockbridge Road.

8.9 In addition to the above physical improvements the developer has agreed to make a £69,600 contribution towards further pedestrian, cyclist and public transport improvements in the vicinity of the site.

9 Financial implications

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

(i) carry out the above highway improvements which have been estimated to cost £80,000; and

(ii) make a financial contribution of £69,600 towards pedestrian, cyclist and public transport improvements in the vicinity of the site.

7986/SJ