Contact: Joanne Willis, ext 6903 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given for the Chief Executive to conclude an appropriate Legal Agreement with Acornfield Estates Limited and Test Valley Borough Council and Hampshire County Council and/or any other relevant party in relation to the implementation, at no cost to the County Council, of approved highway works at an estimated cost of £175,000 and the securing of a financial contribution of £75,200 towards pedestrian, cycle and public transport improvements as identified in the Andover Transport Strategy or successor strategy.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports Aims 2 of the Corporate Strategy (Stewardship of the Environment) by improving travel choice, and Aim 5 (Improving Services) by improving local bus infrastructure.

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 allow the developer to carry out the highway works and it would deny the County Council the benefits of these works and the off-site highway contribution.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member 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 J K Glen

7. Introduction

7.1 A full planning application has been submitted to Test Valley Borough Council for the erection of a 50 bedroom hotel with associated restaurant, health and fitness club, day nursery and drive-through restaurant.

7.2 The site is located on the West Portway Industrial Estate on the west side of Andover, bounded to the south by the A342 and close to the A303 (see attached location plan).

7.3 The owner of the land is Test Valley Borough Council. The site is the last remaining plot to be developed on the industrial estate. There are approximately 60 other plots, ranging from distribution centres, light engineering, parts centres and offices.

7.4 Test Valley Borough Council has recently resolved to grant planning permission for the development, subject to the conclusion of appropriate legal agreements

8. Transport Proposals

8.1 The planning application proposes the erection of a 50 bedroom hotel with associated restaurant, health and fitness club, day nursery and drive through restaurant with new vehicular access from Joule Road and 321 parking spaces. This is in accordance with advice in the Hampshire County Council Parking Standards 2001.

8.2 The site currently gains access from internal industrial estate roads. This is via Joule Road and Reith Way. The industrial estate is accessed from the A342 and A343.

8.3 The developer has agreed to:

(i) improve access to the site by implementing improvements to the local highway network which will enable improved access to the site by all modes of transport;

(ii) provide a direct access into the site from the A342, by means of a new ghost island right turn lane. This will only serve as access to the site and egress will be from another point. Exit from the site would only be via Joule Road, and out through the estate either to the north at the A343 West Portway Roundabout or south on to the A342 at Reith Way;

(iii) widen the exit lane at the Reith Way/A342 Junction;

(iv) carry out work associated with a Traffic Regulation Order at Joule Road, for a one-way section on Joule Road, which will require a turning head to form part of the site access. The


development is not dependent on the success of the Traffic Regulation Order; this is a matter which has been promoted by the developer and is acceptable to the County Council;

(v) improve pedestrian/cycle crossing facilities at Hundred Acre Corner. The improvement will comprise an improved uncontrolled crossing, as well as a new footway between Hundred Acre Corner roundabout and the south east corner of the development; and

(vi) upgrade the footway along Macadam Way to a shared footway and cycle use, along with improved signage to link the new crossing at the A343 into cycle route 17 at Caxton Close.

8.4 The developer is also going to remove the turning head at Joule Road and landscape the area to the satisfaction of the County Council.

8.5 In addition to the above physical improvements the developer has agreed to make a £75,200 contribution towards pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on the A343 and towards improving bus information at Macadam Way. The developer has also agreed to implement a Site Travel Plan which will promote access by alternative modes of transport and explore the potential to link the site to the town centre.

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 estimated to cost £175,000; and

(ii) make a financial contribution of £75,200 towards a pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on the A343,and bus information on Macadam Way.

10. Local Member's View

10.1 The local Member, Councillor Kirk, has been advised and has no comments.

6/JW