Object

Representation ID: 10440

Received: 29/07/2022

Respondent: Gallagher Developments Group Limited

Agent: Barton Willmore

Legally compliant? Not specified

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? Not specified

Criterion (iii) of Policy HOU17 states that the development is dependent on the delivery of transport improvements which will need to be secured before development can take place in accordance with an agreed Infrastructure Delivery Plan. Criterion (iv) requires submission of a transport assessment including measures to mitigate the impact of development on the local and strategic route network and to maximise opportunities for sustainable travel including provision of a mobility hub (criterion v).
Linked to this site specific policy, is strategic Policy DS3(S), which explains that housing provision across the plan period will need to be “stepped”; continuing at the same rate as it is for Local Plan 2030 for the first five years, with more significant growth post-2030 once critical infrastructure is delivered – in particular transport infrastructure. We have provided a detailed overview of the transport evidence that accompanies the Draft Plan in Appendix A of these representations.
Firstly, the Council should look to ensure that it seeks to meet housing needs consistently across the plan period and not unnecessarily pushing back housing delivery through the use of a stepped trajectory, as outlined in paragraph 68-021of PPG. The use of a stepped trajectory should be a last resort and preference should be given to meeting needs more consistently across the plan period where sustainable.
The Council has identified that development of the Site at College Farm would be directly supported by the proposed improvements to the junction of A421/A600, which includes the introduction of traffic signals on the northbound approach of A600 leading towards the southern roundabout of the dumbbell junction. Although it is recognised that some peak hour delay and congestion may be forecast in 2040 at that junction, we are of the opinion that a ‘Monitor and Manage’ approach should be adopted, in conjunction with the wider and more extensive improvements to widen A421 between A421/A6 and A421/A603 Cambridge Road.
The implementation of an improvement to the junction of A421/A600 should not prejudice either the commencement or the full occupation of dwellings on the Site. The adoption of a ‘Monitor and Manage’ approach would therefore be consistent with the current views of both National Highways and BBC, and any future highway scheme to improve the junction should be assessed as part of the more extensive proposal by National Highways to widen A421.
For the above reason, there is opportunity for College Farm to come forward earlier than anticipated in the Council’s stepped trajectory under Policy DS3(S) and this would go some way to addressing the shortfall in housing supply in the earlier plan period. Currently, the trajectory shows the first homes on College Farm occurring in 2028 due to the timing and need for upfront transport interventions on the A600/A421. We would argue that new homes could be delivered as early as 2025 without the need for major strategic interventions and therefore the trajectory should be amended to reflect these considerations.