Contact: Frank Baxter, ext 6581 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report considers topical strategic issues relevant to the North Hampshire Transport Strategy area.

2. South East Plan Update

2.1 The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) has combined the Blackwater Valley and Western Corridor sub-regions. The local authorities in the new Western Corridor and Blackwater Valley sub-region have been asked by SEERA to investigate the opportunities and impacts of implementing additional housing.

2.2 The Assembly is asking for various scenarios for future development to be investigated. At the highest level of housing growth it is asking for Regional Planning Guidance (RPG) 9 figures plus 40% (up to 2026) to be tested, with a view to developing a scale and distribution plan across the region. Although the options to be tested relate to housing growth, employment growth will also have an impact.

2.3 Through this work SEERA is looking to address the following key sub-regional issues:

(i) what measures are required to build on the strengths of the area to support the long term sustainable growth of the sub-region;

(ii) how the potential surplus of jobs over labour supply may be addressed;

(iii) the broad amounts and sustainable distribution of employment and housing development, including affordable housing to meet the economic and social needs of the sub-region up to 2026;

(iv) the potential opportunities for land releases by statutory agencies and government departments, including the Ministry of Defence (MOD); and

(v) the provision and delivery of strategic infrastructure and services to support development, including scope for demand management.

2.4 A great deal of work is taking place to meet Assembly committee deadlines later this year. This work will inform the draft Regional Spatial Strategy. On transport, an officer sub-group has been set up to model and report on the infrastructure improvements or policies that would need to be implemented to accommodate various growth scenarios. A report was presented to the Member Steering Group on 27 October 2004.

3. Manydown Major Development Area

3.1 At the last Panel meeting it was reported that work would be taking place to develop this proposal in advance of the Local Plan Inquiry. The proposal is now a development allocation in the Draft Local Plan for the period post 2011. Other progress since the last meeting includes:

(i) the publication of an urban design strategy;

(ii) public consultation meetings;

(iii) officer meetings to discuss a range of issues, including transport impacts and opportunities; and

(iv) the project team and consultants are in the final stages of producing a Development Framework prior to the Local Plan Inquiry. The document seeks to elaborate on many of the key issues related to the Manydown proposal and convey the "vision" for the Major Development Area in more detail. Officers from Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council have been involved in developing this document.

3.2 The main elements of the transport proposals are to:

(i) provide a new link road between the B3400 Worting Road and the A339 Ringway North to take both through traffic and traffic generated by the development;

(ii) take advantage of the consequent relief afforded on Worting Road to provide a public transport, walking and cycling priority route to the town centre, with the vision of making journeys by bus quicker and more convenient than a similar journey by car;

(iii) create a street hierarchy which provides local access connections to the existing communities around Manydown without encouraging through traffic to use these routes; and

(iv) substantially reduce the current level of traffic using Roman Road.

4. Basingstoke And Deane Local Plan Inquiry Update

4.1 The Basingstoke and Deane Borough Local Plan Inquiry is due to commence on 11 January 2005, to resolve any outstanding objections raised in relation to the First Deposit Draft Local Plan, the Revised Deposit Draft Local Plan and the Pre-Inquiry Changes. These amounted to just over 3,300 objections. The Inquiry is to be dealt with by three Inspectors, and it is the intention to proceed with the Inquiry using an informal approach. As such, it is expected that the main issues of housing and employment land provision will be discussed by way of `round-table' sessions, and to make use of informal hearings for omission sites (of which there are over 140) and other policy objections. It is not intended to hold any formal hearings during the Inquiry.

4.2 A key outstanding issue is the objection raised by the Highways Agency, with reference to the ability of the motorway and trunk road network to accommodate the additional traffic flows, generated by the development requirements set out in the Local Plan Review. In particular, the Highways Agency has concerns regarding the Black Dam roundabout at junction 6 of the M3, with safety associated issues with junction 7 and the link to junction 8.

4.3 The Borough Council has been working with the County Council and the Highways Agency to examine these issues in greater detail. Consultants have been appointed to identify a means of resolving the concerns of the Highways Agency, and agreeing a way forward. It is anticipated that a joint statement with the Highways Agency can be agreed prior to the start of the Local Plan Inquiry.

5. Aldershot Urban Extension

5.1 Details of this proposed development of 4,500 houses (possibly more) were reported to the last Panel meeting. Since then discussions have been taking place with the MOD's transport consultants with regard to developing an appropriate transport strategy both internal and external to the site. It is expected that a detailed Transport Assessment in support of the planning application will be completed in November 2004. The MOD has been informed that a full Transport Assessment will be required before the application will be accepted by Rushmoor Borough Council.

5.2 Key to the public transport strategy is the vision that public transport improvements required from the development will be high quality, sustainable and attractive. Through the Inquiry by Design process it was thought that something more than a bus but less than a rapid transit system, possibly involving high quality vehicles, would meet this vision.

5.3 Highway schemes are being produced to address the impacts of the development on the transport network. These include:

(i) areas of Farnborough Road (A325);

(ii) Lynchford Road,

(iii) Wellington Avenue (A323);

(iv) North Lane; and

(v) Hollybush Lane.

5.4 Junction improvement options are being developed for a number of these and option testing is under way. In addition, cycle and pedestrian improvement proposals are being developed.

5.5 Discussions on the internal layout and design standards are evolving. In a new approach to planning developments of this nature, CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment) and English Partnerships have been involved as partners in this development from an early stage. It is hoped that their involvement will ensure that this is a quality urban development that could be used as a example demonstration project.

5.6 Key issues to be resolved:

(i) the final detail of the public transport improvements;

(ii) a desire by the Highways Agency that the development should have nil impact on the trunk road network; and

(iii) the location of appropriate primary and secondary schools. Present proposals are for secondary school trips from the site to be split evenly between Wavell and Connaught Schools. The transport impacts of this need to be considered.

5.7 Further details will be covered through the evaluation of the planning application.

6. Queen Elizabeth II Barracks Development

6.1 English Nature has concerns about the impact of dog walkers from the development on the Special Bird Protection Area to the east. A new application was submitted in October.

6.2 The applicant has taken the opportunity to update all traffic and transport data and a revised transport assessment will be submitted with the planning application. Discussions are continuing on the public transport strategy and the off-site transport contribution, in terms of the amount and what it might be spent on, which at present still includes the Redfields Lane/A287 junction improvement.

7. Basingstoke Parking Strategy Review

7.1 Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has undertaken a consultation on a review of its parking policies, including pricing. The results of the consultation were being collected at the time of writing. Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council officers will give an oral update on the results of the consultation at the meeting.

8. Fleet Eastern Bypass (Kennels Lane Link)

8.1 This scheme arises from the need to alleviate the impacts of traffic on Fleet town centre and to provide for development in the Pyestock area. It is funded by the developers of the Farnborough Business Park. The scheme has been granted planning permission by Hart District Council, subject to the wording of a planning gain agreement. Consequently, no completion date is currently available.

8.2 Signing in Fleet will be reviewed in light of the new route.

Recommendation

That Members note the issues raised in this report.

9000/FB