Services
Our staff benefit from extensive experience gained in the public and private sectors. With this experience, and equipped with the latest specialist computer software, we can deal with all transport planning issues.
We provide the full range of transport planning services including Transport Assessments, Transport Statements, traffic and speed surveys, traffic generation analysis, junction design and analysis, Travel Plan formulation and implementation.
Transport Assessments and Transport Statements
A Transport Assessment will often be required to accompany a planning application for proposed development, particularly when the Local Authority consider the proposal will have significant transport implications. For smaller schemes a simple Transport Statement may be sufficient, dealing primarily with traffic generation, vehicular access and layout issues.
We have the full range of tools which are necessary for the production of Transport Assessments, including the industry-standard TRICS Database which is used to forecast the traffic associated with a proposed development.
Travel Plans and Accessibility
A Travel Plan is a package of practical measures aimed at encouraging staff and visitors to choose alternative modes of travel to that of the private car, particularly for single occupancy journeys.
Travel Plans should be submitted alongside planning applications which are likely to have significant transport implications. These include:
- All major developments comprising jobs, shopping, leisure and services;
- Smaller developments comprising jobs, shopping, leisure and services which would generate significant amounts of travel in, or near to, air quality management areas; and
- Where a travel plan would help address a particular local traffic problem associated with a planning application, which might otherwise have to be refused on local traffic grounds.
An example of one of our area-wide Travel Plan projects can be seen at the Capitol Park Leeds Travel Guide Website.
Junction and Access Design
New developments often require new, or improved site access arrangements. Off-site highway improvements may also be required to mitigate the impacts arising from larger developments. We design using AutoCAD and check vehicle manoeuvres and swept paths using AutoTrack.
We have the latest junction modelling software (ARCADY, PICADY, OSCADY, TRANSYT etc.) and the necessary expertise to test the operation of roundabout, priority, grade-separated and signal controlled junctions and networks. If improvements to a junction are justified we can design and test a range of conventional and innovative solutions.
We also have the AutoTrack swept path analysis computer package which allows you to model the manoeuvre of all types of steered vehicle around new junctions, parking areas, internal highway layout, servicing and loading areas, etc.
Off-Site Access Solutions
Government policy encourages the use of ‘brownfield’ and infill land, but it is often difficult to provide access to these sites. Frequently, sufficient land may not be available to deliver an 'ideal' standard of access. The suitability of the adjacent highway network may also be an issue, and often the potential for improving this in conventional ways is limited.
Northern Transport Planning has the experience and expertise to identify innovative strategies to overcome highways objections to development. Our first step is to evaluate the constraints on development; these could include land availability, highway capacity, road safety, the timing of development or financial issues.
A package of measures to overcome identified constraints is then identified on a site specific basis, from the following range:
- Considering traffic calming or traffic management measures to constrain the speed of traffic on adjacent roads or to address particular traffic or road safety issues.
- Considering the potential to reduce traffic generation, particularly during peak periods, through the introduction of a Travel Plan or considering a revised mix of land uses.
- Whilst having regard to normal design standards, identifying a standard of highway design which is sufficient for the needs of the proposed development and users of the local highway network.
- Where necessary, identifying highway improvements or other measures to overcome constraints on development or deal with impacts arising from development.
