EDF Energy provides further details on the traffic studies on the A12
EDF Energy launched Stage 1 of its consultation on the proposals for Sizewell C in
November. This first stage of public consultation runs through to 6 February, 2013.
Thousands of local people have already attended a series of exhibitions, public meetings
and drop in sessions, where they have been able to discuss the plans with experts from EDF
Energy and have been encouraged to give their feedback on the proposals.
“One of the issues which people have raised with us is to ask for extra detail about the
possible impact of the Sizewell C construction traffic on the A12 through Marlesford, Little
Glemham, Stratford St Andrew and Farnham,” said Angela Piearce, head of the Sizewell C
Project.
“People have asked for further information on how we reached the 5-15% figure for the
additional traffic that the construction of Sizewell C will put on the “four villages” stretch of
the A12. We are happy to provide that.”
Before consulting on the Stage 1 plans, EDF Energy’s traffic surveys in May 2011 showed the
two-way traffic flow recorded through the ‘four villages’ stretch of the A12 averaged
approximately 16,600 vehicles per day.
It is estimated that this traffic flow will increase to around 18,600 vehicles per day due to
economic growth, which is unrelated to Sizewell C, by the time of the peak construction
period for Sizewell C.
EDF Energy's current estimates are that the traffic relating to Sizewell C at peak
construction could add around 1,200 additional vehicles per day. This figure includes
estimates of Heavy Goods Vehicles, Light Goods Vehicles, cars, and buses related to the
development of the power station.
These figures, which take account of EDF Energy's transport strategy proposals for using sea
and rail for moving materials and park and ride developments to reduce traffic, represent an
increase of between 6 and 7% of future traffic flows on the A12.
“We used the figures of 5 to 15% in our consultation material as an approximate guide to
the impact the project may have on the traffic on this stretch of the A12. This recognises
there will be fluctuations in the traffic flows over time and also reflects the relatively early
stages of the Sizewell C project,” explained Angela.
“We are confident that the range quoted in the consultation is a sound estimate of the likely
impact of Sizewell C on the four villages stretch of the A12.”
“Based on these figures, our current view is that a full bypass of the four villages would not
be justified by the impact of our construction traffic. We do consider that measures could
be required to improve the position at Farnham Bend, and we are consulting on a number
of options in relation to that.”
“We are also committed to testing these numbers through further work, as we continue to
shape our plans and will be carrying out further consultation with the public on our
proposals before our application for final a development consent order is submitted to the
Planning Inspectorate.“
EDF Energy will be doing further work to develop and refine its transport assessment. This
work will be shared with Suffolk County Council and be open to their scrutiny and comment.
For further details of the figures, and how they were arrived at, see the EDF Energy –
Sizewell C consultation website at: http://sizewell.edfenergyconsultation.info
ENDS
Media Background Briefing Note:
EDF Energy’s Stage 1 Consultation includes a wide range of proposals to reduce traffic
associated with Sizewell C construction. These include:
-
A large near site accommodation campus (2,000-3,000 beds)
A jetty for sea delivery of bulk materials, abnormal loads and containerised goods
Investment in rail infrastructure to allow 4-5 freight trains per day to deliver direct to
the construction site
Use of park and ride during peak construction to reduce traffic through towns and
villages closer to the construction site.
These are major proposals which represent a substantial commitment by EDF Energy to
reduce traffic impacts for communities close to Sizewell.
In developing our proposals we are obliged to consider and assess the specific traffic and
environmental impacts of Sizewell C. The transport planning guidance against which EDF
Energy’s application for Sizewell C would be tested, directs EDF Energy to:
•
•
prioritise the use of rail and sea transport where cost effective
consider demand management measures (such as park and ride and a large near-site
accommodation campus) before considering the provision of new inland transport
infrastructure
These requirements are set out in the transport section of the National Policy Statement for
Energy (EN-1) and are discussed in more detail in Section 2 of the Transport Strategy
document which has been published as part of the Stage 1 Consultation proposals.
In arriving at the 5-15% figure for additional traffic flows through the four villages stretch of
the A12, a three step process has been involved.
Firstly, surveys of existing traffic flows in the road network near Sizewell were carried out in
May 2011. Department of Transport guidance requires that traffic surveys for transport
assessment purposes are conducted in a “neutral” month and May is a recognised neutral
month. The timing and location of our traffic surveys was agreed with Suffolk County
Council.
The average two way flow through the village of Farnham was recorded in May 2011 as
16,624 vehicles. Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) accounted for 9% of this total flow (approx
1,500 movements).
Future Traffic Flows on the four villages stretch of the A12
Secondly, estimates have been made of future traffic flows. It is standard practice in
transport assessment to compare estimates of development related traffic against future,
rather than current, traffic flows. EDF Energy has therefore made an estimate of future
daily traffic flows on the four villages stretch of the A12 at the time of peak construction,
prior to considering the impact of Sizewell C.
These estimates have been made based on DFT guidance and assume economic growth, and
that economic growth is accompanied by traffic growth. Future two-way traffic flows
without Sizewell C are estimated to reach around 18,560 vehicles through the four villages
by the time of peak construction.
Estimates of Sizewell C related traffic at peak construction
Thirdly, EDF Energy has made initial estimates of the amount of traffic that Sizewell C will
generate during the years of peak construction. These estimates include cars, HGVs, Light
Goods Vehicles (LGVs) and Buses. It should be stressed that these are preliminary estimates
and are subject to change – indeed it is very likely that our detailed estimates will change as
the project develops, our proposals are defined in more detail and our assumptions are
refined in consultation with SCC.
That said, we consider that our initial estimates are likely to be robust for a range of reasons
– which are set out below:
•
We have considered the peak construction period in terms of workforce (5,600)
•
We have assumed that the peak workforce occurs at the same time as the peak
movement of materials and thus deliveries to site
•
We have used the top end of the Stage 1 range of daily HGV deliveries which is 100300 deliveries per day - as well as considering daily fluctuation around this figure.
•
We have used the top end of the Stage 1 estimates of LGV movements (510
movements).
•
We have assumed the bottom end of the proposed size of the near/on-site
accommodation campus (2,000 workers). A larger campus would result in reduced
traffic movements.
•
We have made modest assumptions on the numbers of workers travelling by the
direct buses we will provide and by rail (around 5% of the peak workforce)
•
We have initially assumed no walking, cycling or motorcycling to the construction
site.
Taking these assumptions into account we have estimated that, at peak construction,
Sizewell C related traffic could add around 1,200 two way vehicle movements through the
four villages stretch of the A12. This would represent an increase of between 6 and 7% on
future traffic flows (and an increase of a little over 7% of existing traffic flows).
This estimate of around 1,200 additional movements is composed of:
Cars – approx 400 movements
LGVs – approx 80 movements
HGVs – approx 510 movements
Buses – approx 200 movements
A brief summary of how we arrived at these estimates is provided below:
Cars
EDF Energy’s proposals for a southern park and ride development will intercept large
numbers of daily car movements to site prior to passage through the four villages –
substantially reducing traffic impacts for many communities close to the Sizewell C
site. Nonetheless EDF Energy estimates that there will be some additional Sizewell C related
car traffic through the four villages arising from:
•
•
•
•
A relatively small number of individuals resident in the four villages
A small number of individuals with parking permits for the on-site car park
Non-work related car trips by non-home based workers
Visitors to the Sizewell C site Public Information Centre
As with all our figures, the estimate that these elements will generate around 400 additional
daily car movements will be subject to further work and discussion with SCC.
Heavy Goods Vehicles
HGVs will be on fixed routes and we estimate that around 85% of HGV deliveries will be
coming from the south via the A12 and will thus pass through the four villages stretch of the
A12 on their journey to and from the construction site.
In our Stage 1 consultation we set out that the current estimated range of HGV deliveries at
peak construction is between 100 and 300 deliveries per day. We have taken the top end of
this range with 300 deliveries representing 600 movements. Applying the assumption that
85% of movements are from and to the south on the A12 gives the figure of 510
movements.
We have also considered the daily fluctuation which is likely to apply to HGV movements
and which could see HGV movements 50% higher on the “busiest day” of the peak
construction period, which would represent 900 movements, of which 765 (85%) could pass
through the four villages stretch of the A12.
Light Goods Vehicles
Light Goods Vehicle movements to and from the construction site will typically relate to the
provision of a wide range of goods and services for the project including deliveries of
specialist equipment or services, visits by electricians, mechanics, repairs, inspection and
maintenance activities and so on.
Of the 510 daily LGV movements used in our estimates, we have assumed that around 80
pass through the four villages. This reflects the assumption that LGV movements will be
widely distributed across the local road network due to their diverse nature and origin.
However, for robustness, we have also considered a scenario where LGV movements are
distributed predominantly on the A12 from the south – as with HGVs – giving a figure of
around 430 LGV movements (85% of 510).
Buses
Sizewell C related bus movements through the four villages stretch of the A12 will be a
combination of direct bus services from Ipswich and park and ride buses from the proposed
southern park and ride development. Our estimate of a total of around 200 movements
assumes frequent bus services during the main shift changeover periods and a more limited
service outside of those times.
Summary of 5-15% analysis
In summary, while it is still relatively early days in the development of the Project, EDF
Energy has used robust initial assumptions to estimate the likely additional traffic generated
by Sizewell C.
These assumptions suggest an increase in traffic arising from Sizewell C of around 6-7%
through the four villages stretch of the A12. Consideration of scenarios with higher HGV or
LGV movements as described above could increase this estimate to around 8-10%. Equally,
use of EDF Energy’s lower or mid-range estimates of HGV or LGV movements could reduce
the increase to around 5%.
Therefore the 5-15% range quoted in the Stage 1 consultation is considered to be robust
and cautious. The use of the range reflects the consideration that the project is in its
relatively early stages, detailed estimates are subject to review and are likely to change.
Position in relation to Farnham Bend
EDF Energy has indicated in its Stage 1 consultation that, although our current view is that
we do not consider a full four village bypass is likely to be justified by our development, we
do consider that mitigation measures may be justified in relation to Farnham bend.
The reason we have reached this view reflects a number of considerations. The bend at
Farnham is widely recognised to be most significant existing issue on the four villages
stretch of the A12. The road is closest to capacity at this point due to the narrow road width
and represents a safety concern, particularly when two large vehicles pass at once. Sizewell
C peak construction traffic will include a higher proportion of large vehicles (HGVs and
buses) than existing flows – increasing the frequency with which two large vehicles could
pass at once. Initial work also suggests Sizewell C traffic could lead to capacity constraints at
Farnham at peak network periods. For these reasons we have included a number of
mitigation options for the bend at Farnham in our Stage 1 consultation.
Further work and next steps
In the sections above we have provided a high level analysis of the likely additional traffic
flows through the four villages. This provides a broad indication of the potential scale of
Sizewell C impacts.
As we have indicated in our Stage 1 Transport Strategy document there is much further
work to be done to refine and develop our transport assessment. This work will include:
•
Further traffic modelling of additional development and network peak hours
•
Future work to consider in more detail congestion, road safety, pedestrian amenity,
noise and air quality impacts.
We will continue to work closely with Suffolk County Council in this area and will publish
further more detailed information through the consultation phase.