23.03.2014 Views

Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council

Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council

Knowsley Replacement Unitary Development Plan - Knowsley Council

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

TRANSPORT<br />

TRANSPORT<br />

POLICY T7:<br />

NEW DEVELOPMENT AND WALKING &<br />

CYCLING ROUTES<br />

1. New development should preserve and where<br />

possible enhance the walking & cycling<br />

network, as it can help enhance and provide<br />

access to green corridors & the countryside as<br />

well as promoting and encouraging exercise<br />

and healthy living for all.<br />

2. In considering proposals for new development<br />

which will block (either partially or wholly) an<br />

existing right of way or other existing or<br />

proposed walking or cycling route, a balanced<br />

consideration of the following factors will<br />

be undertaken:<br />

a) The contribution that the route makes or<br />

will make to the walking and/or cycling<br />

network in the area and the harm that<br />

would be caused to accessibility between<br />

existing uses in the surrounding area if the<br />

route were no longer available; and<br />

b) Any benefits to community safety or<br />

security that could arise from the closure<br />

of the route.<br />

3. In the event of it being minded to approve a<br />

development that would have an adverse<br />

effect on existing pedestrian or cycle<br />

networks, the <strong>Council</strong> will seek to secure<br />

alternative provision of equivalent quality,<br />

safety and convenience.<br />

EXPLANATION T7<br />

8.35<br />

There is a comprehensive network of rights of way<br />

within the Borough, which are designated as<br />

footpaths or bridleways on the definitive Rights of<br />

Way map. One route (the Trans-Pennine Trail) is part<br />

of a strategic long distance trail. Many footpaths and<br />

cycle routes, whilst not formally designated as rights<br />

of way, are also considered to provide important links<br />

(often within the built up area) as outlined in the<br />

Countryside Recreation Strategy for <strong>Knowsley</strong><br />

(approved 1996) which also includes a vision for the<br />

development of a “<strong>Knowsley</strong> Way” footpath and<br />

associated link footpaths. However these are still<br />

under development and as yet are insufficiently<br />

defined to show on the Proposals Map. There is also<br />

the potential in the future, where appropriate, for the<br />

<strong>Council</strong> to identify Quiet Lanes (see glossary) which<br />

are vehicular routes where traffic travels at slow<br />

enough speeds to make walking, cycling, or horse<br />

riding enjoyable. The <strong>Council</strong> will similarly<br />

consider the potential in the future to identify<br />

“Greenways” if appropriate, where walking and<br />

cycling will form part of informal recreational<br />

corridors. Footpaths and cycleways can have great<br />

benefits by helping promote and encourage<br />

exercise and healthy living for all as well as<br />

enhancing and providing access to green corridors<br />

and the countryside.<br />

8.36<br />

However, footpaths can sometimes contribute to the<br />

risk of crime and nuisance, particularly where they<br />

run at the back of buildings without adequate natural<br />

surveillance. In some cases it has been necessary for<br />

the <strong>Council</strong> to seek the closure of such routes in the<br />

interests of the amenity of neighbouring residents<br />

and of preventing unauthorised access to property.<br />

8.37<br />

In considering proposals affecting rights of way, the<br />

<strong>Council</strong> will take a balanced approach, which will<br />

weigh up the benefits of keeping the route open<br />

compared to any security or safety concerns that<br />

could arise from doing this. The more important the<br />

route is to accessibility in the area, the less likely<br />

permission is to be granted for any development,<br />

which would affect the route. Where a development<br />

would interfere with or block a footpath or cycle<br />

route, the <strong>Council</strong> will seek to agree alternative<br />

provision with the developer. It will be important to<br />

ensure that any alternative provision is itself safe,<br />

convenient and uses attractive boundary treatments,<br />

lighting and surface materials.<br />

POLICY LINKS<br />

Policy DQ1<br />

“Design Quality in New <strong>Development</strong>”<br />

Policy DQ2<br />

“Security in the Built Environment”<br />

POLICY T8:<br />

TRANSPORT ASSESSMENTS<br />

<strong>Development</strong> proposals that would prejudice the<br />

primary function of any part of the highway<br />

network (i.e. the motorway, trunk road, primary<br />

and local highway network) by generating a<br />

material increase in traffic, which would overload<br />

the access to, or any part of the network, will not<br />

be permitted, unless the necessary mitigation<br />

measures required are undertaken.<br />

<strong>Plan</strong>ning applications for the following forms of<br />

development will be required to be accompanied by<br />

a Transport Assessment:<br />

a) Major traffic generating development<br />

proposals as defined in table 8.1;<br />

b) Proposals which, either by themselves or in<br />

conjunction with wider proposals of which the<br />

development forms a part, are likely to cause<br />

significant harm as a result of existing road<br />

capacity or safety problems in the area;<br />

c) Proposals which are likely to significantly<br />

increase pollution and/or noise as a result of<br />

traffic generation; or cause pollution levels in<br />

Air Quality Management areas to exceed<br />

guideline levels;<br />

d) Proposals that would generate a material<br />

increase in traffic entering or using any<br />

motorways, trunk roads or other primary<br />

routes; and<br />

e) Proposals that would impact on the<br />

bus network.<br />

EXPLANATION T8<br />

8.38<br />

Large-scale developments can have significant<br />

transport implications. The submission of transport<br />

assessments with planning applications enables<br />

these implications to be fully assessed. The aim is to<br />

manage travel demand so as to limit the effects of<br />

traffic generation on the environment (e.g. through<br />

noise or air pollution), and to provide for safe and<br />

easy access for all users to the site by all modes of<br />

travel. Not all proposals will require a full Transport<br />

Assessment. However, the <strong>Council</strong> will seek to<br />

ensure that adequate information is submitted with<br />

each planning application to ensure that the<br />

implications of the development for the transport<br />

network are adequately assessed.<br />

8.39<br />

The Highways Agency has responsibility for the<br />

maintenance of the motorway, trunk roads and other<br />

primary routes on behalf of the Secretary of State.<br />

In regard to motorways, the Secretary of State has a<br />

strict policy of not allowing direct access to<br />

motorways other than for motorway service stations,<br />

or motorway maintenance compounds. The Agency if<br />

necessary can direct the <strong>Council</strong> to refuse planning<br />

applications for developments whose access<br />

arrangements breach this policy.<br />

8.40<br />

A Transport Assessment is required to identify<br />

whether or not a proposal is feasible in traffic terms,<br />

and to ascertain the necessity and scope for<br />

acceptable highway improvement works or other<br />

mitigation measures. Works may be required to<br />

protect the safety and efficiency of the trunk and local<br />

road networks. Any development must be<br />

satisfactorily integrated into and coordinated with the<br />

highway network.<br />

90<br />

KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006<br />

KNOWSLEY REPLACEMENT UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN: Adopted June 2006<br />

91

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!