Afternoon Tracy,
Further to your email to Richard Brown, I have considered each of the County Highway’s
recommended reasons for refusal in turn and have the following points of note / observation:
HDCR 02 The proposed development does not adequately provide off-site facilities for pedestrians,
cyclists, people with disabilities (those confined to a wheelchair or others with mobility difficulties)
to link with existing provision and local services.
Significant improvements are proposed for Church Street within the village to improve access for
non-motorised users. Drawing 0505/SK/001/G (attached) illustrates the provision of shared
surfacing and additional pedestrian measures on Church Street. The proposals include the
introduction of a pedestrian strip along the length of Church Street to facilitate pedestrian
movement between the site, school and other areas of the village. The pedestrian strip will be
slightly raised (25mm), and will be comprised of a Dense Bit Mac surfacing material to create a minor
contrast of material with the vehicular section of the carriageway. In addition, uncontrolled
pedestrian crossing points will be provided adjacent to the site and the village school. Collectively
this infrastructure will formalise arrangements for pedestrians, contributing to a reduction in conflict
between non-motorised users and vehicles and ultimately improving safety.
HDCR 03 The proposed development does not have adequate access to an appropriate level of
public transport provision as set out in the adopted Norfolk Bus Strategy published by the
Transport Authority.
The level of public transport availability afforded to the site is considered good, particularly for a
village location. The Church Road bus stops are easily accessible from the site at approximately
150m from the furthest point of the site. Services to Cromer run 5 times per day, as do services to
North Walsham with departures times at convenient times during the day to assist with residents
travelling to work.
HDCR 06 All roads that lead to the site are country lanes that do not provide adequate access to
the route hierarchy, due to their width, alignment and lack of forward visibility. Therefore, they
are unsuitable to cater for the vehicular movements generated by the proposal, which, if
consented would be likely to give rise to conditions detrimental to highway safety.
As detailed above, significant improvements are proposed for Church Street. In addition,
improvements are proposed for New Road, leading into the village. Drawing 0505/SK/002/A
(attached) illustrates formalisation of vehicle inter-visible passing places on New Road. The
formalisation of the passing places on New Road will provide a number of prescribed opportunities
for vehicles to safely pass. Each passing place will be 15m in length (able to accommodate large
vehicles), with a 5m entrance and exit taper promoting safe merge and diverge movements from the
carriageway. The formalisation of the passing places will make movements along New Road safer
and more convenient. In addition, the negative impact of the various informal passing places, such
as affecting hedgerows etc, will be mitigated.
HDCR 12 Inadequate visibility splays are provided at the junction of the access with the County
highway and this would cause danger and inconvenience to users of the adjoining public highway.
The site has an extant permission for industrial use, for which an existing vehicular access via Church
Street is in place. It is proposed to improve and rationalise the existing arrangement.
Visibility from the site access to the east is in line with requirements at 4.5m x 43m. To the west
visibility is 4.5m x 30m – whilst this is below the standard of 43m for a 30mph speed limit it is of note
that the actual 85th%ile speeds adjacent to the site access are 24mph, as recorded by ATCs. For
24mph, visibility of 31.4m is required – the achievable visibility of 30m is marginally below this level.
In addition, the proposed access junction location is existing and was utilised when the site was
previously in use.
We are content for the above and attached to be released to Members et al if required.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information or assistance.
Kind regards
Laura
Laura Hudson
Principal Transport Planner
WSP UK, Mountbatten House, Basing View, Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG21 4HJ
Tel: +44(0)1256 318670
Mob: +44(0)7827 449131
Fax: +44(0)1256 318700
Website: www.wspgroup.co.uk