Spatial Planning and the Strategic Road Network' Policy

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HIGHWAYS AGENCYRon DaviesNetwork Manager2
The SquareTemple QuayBristol BS1 6HATel 0117
372 8198
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HA - Who are we?

• DfT Executive Agency
• Responsible for
• Operating
• Maintaining
• Improving
• SRN

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SW STRATEGIC ROAD NETWORK
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• Why HA Important? Facts.
• network value gt75 billion
• 3 billion pa spend
• 4,500 miles (over 7,200km) lt3 total network
• one third England all road traffic
• two thirds of all HGVs
• gt151 billion vehicle kilometre journeys pa
• vital to commerce and industry - GB PLC
• major beneficial impact on individuals and
  communities.

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• Why HA Important? Planning
• Statutory Consultee All levels
• SW RSS EIP (April July 2007)
• LDFs
• Planning applications (A10 A15 TCPGDO)
• Teeth - Power to intervene in applications
• A14 Directions (TCPGDO)

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• THE CHALLENGE
• ? THE PULL
• meeting reliability targets
• tackling congestion safety
• applying new policy (Circular 2/2007)
• ? THE PUSH
• sustainability agenda
• combating climate change
• limited available funding
• deliverability environmental constraints
• Against background of STRESS

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Government Philosophy

• General Government Transport Policy C2/2007
• cannot attempt to cater for unrestrained growth
• reduce impact of road users on each other and the
  environment
• make smarter journey choices easier
• Planning Philosophy - Sustainable Development
• Ruth Kelly (Tuesday 30 Oct 2007) Towards a
  Sustainable Transport System Supporting Economic
  Growth in a Low Carbon World. Framework to
  deliver a transport system to support the economy
  and reduce carbon emissions.

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In practice

• Developers can no longer expect that all the
  traffic they might produce will be allowed
  without restraint
• General presumption against capacity enhancements
  purely for development purposes
• Capacity enhancements identified in RSS LDF

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The Road Ahead

• Continuing to engage early with the planning
  system
• Front-loading development plans
• Applying Circular 2/2007 policy to development
  control
• Managing the network not Predict Provide
• Active Traffic Management (ATM) (M42)
• HOV (M606/M62 nr Bradford)
• Access management
• Better Information eg.
• National Traffic Control Centre (NTCC)
• HAIL Tel [phone]
• 1,200 motorway Traffic Officers 300 Control
  Room Staff

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HA Planning Performance Agreements

• Early Days no PPAs in SW limited elsewhere
• Consistent with HA approach
• Early Contact / Collaboration
• BENEFITS
• Certainty of information
• Scope for Transport Assessment/Statement
• Certainty of Time
• Lack of information Delays
• CHALLENGES
• What will other partners bring to PPAs?
• How will they work in practice?
• Timing of Approaches to HA - unrealistic?

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Summary

• SRN supports economic viability and sustainable
  regional growth while respecting environment
• Cannot cater for unrestricted traffic growth
• Focus on Demand Management
• Welcome early Engagement Partnerships
• Welcome PPAs as a positive step

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Questions?
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Development Control Policy 1

• Early engagement
• Assessment of operational capacity
• 10 year design from registration of planning
  application
• Supported by a Transport Assessment
• Developers still expected to manage down traffic
  impact

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Development Control Policy 2

• Focus on demand management
• Measures to manage car use
• Travel Plans

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Process For Securing Agreements

• Article 14 Directions
• Holding Directions
• Conditions, S106 and S278 (multi-party
  agreements)
• No satisfactory solution available? - may direct
  against grant of permission but will negotiate
  alternative
• Ringmaster approach to funding

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Network Stress
2005
2016
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Traffic Officer Service

• On Road
• 1200 On-Road Resources
• 160 Vehicle Fleet
• Control Room
• 7 Regional Control Centres
• 300 Staff

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MS4 driver Information panel
CCTV camera
Fixed direction signing
Lighting Columns
Lane specific signals
CEC cabinet
Emergency Roadside Telephone
Lightweight Gantries
MIDAS
Emergency Refuge areas
Hard Shoulder running
Diagram of ATM 4 Lane hard shoulder running
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Enhanced Information Services

• Traffic information by digital radio real-time
  traffic information to road users
• Real-time CCTV images available on our website
  and broadcast quality images to travel news
  providers
• Journey and delay information on motorway message
  signs