Policy TRA1: Sustainable Travel
Policy TRA1: Sustainable Travel
- The Neighbourhood Plan identifies the existing Sustainable Travel Network, as shown on the Policies Map, for the purpose of applying national decision-making policies on locating development in sustainable locations, street design, access and parking and public rights of way. In this respect landscaping such as street trees, planters and benches, that increases the ‘village feel’ and complements bus-friendly traffic calming measures where appropriate, should be implemented within public areas, as set out in the Horsford Transport Masterplan.
- Key Locations, as shown on the Policies Map, have been identified as areas where public realm improvements and traffic mitigation measures are required to enhance the active travel environment and improve residential amenity and highway safety in the Horsford Transport Masterplan. Proposals which deliver such public realm improvements and traffic mitigation measures at Key Locations will be supported.
- Development proposals will be required to contribute to public realm improvements and traffic mitigation measures identified in the Horsford Transport Masterplan provided they directly relate to the impact of the proposed development.
View the Sustainable Travel Network on our Policy Map
- Road safety matters continue to be a principal concern in the community of Horsford. In 2022 the Parish Council commissioned a Transport Masterplan for the village with the aim of creating a place that residents can feel proud to live in and feel safe travelling around on foot and bicycle. The Transport Masterplan is aimed at improving the environment within the village for non-motorised road users including pedestrians and cyclists. Whilst the volume and speed of traffic through the village continues to be an issue that cannot be directly addressed through planning policy, the policy seeks to encourage safe, accessible, convenient and enjoyable means of walking and cycling in the Parish and as far as possible deliver the aims of the Horsford Transport Masterplan
- The policy identifies the existing walking, cycling and public transport routes and the Key Locations where public realm improvements and traffic mitigation measures have been identified in the Horsford Transport Masterplan. The Horsford Transport Masterplan contains specific details on the extent of public realm improvements and traffic mitigation measures sought and is published alongside the Plan. The Policies Map shows the full extent of the Network and these Key Locations, which allows applicants to determine if their proposals should take this policy into account. Where proposals include provision for amenity spaces, landscaping, new means of access or new layouts, there may be an opportunity to relate the land better to the Network and/or improve the attractiveness and connectivity of routes. Proposals should therefore consider this in the design of their schemes without undermining other planning policy objectives as per the provisions of national decision-making policies on these matters.
- To facilitate the movement of pedestrians, cyclists and access to public transport, it should be noted that the Horsford Design Code document makes the observation that “There is a clear need for parking provisions in Horsford as the streets are often overwhelmed with parking which has a negative impact on the appearance of the village, the levels of active movement, pedestrian safety, access to local amenities and the overall rural feel which is crucial to the identity of Horsford. In addition to providing adequate private parking, new development should further enhance the connectivity, access and movement through the neighbourhood area by ensuring pedestrian safety from traffic, utilising wayfinding methods to improve the village’s legibility and supporting local Public Rights of Way that will encourage movement into, through and out of the village.” Design Code CM.02 says, “New development must provide adequate parking spaces to avoid excess on-street parking that infringes on the pedestrian realm. Parking integrated within the curtilage of the dwelling is often the most successful approach and should be designed at an early development stage. Parking at the rear of the dwelling or in a dedicated parking court should be avoided.” In addition, new residential development should incorporate the Norfolk County Council ‘Parking Guidelines for New Developments in Norfolk, 2022’ which includes standards for visitor parking (1 space for every 5 dwellings) and other matters relating to residential and non-residential parking (including design standards).
- The Parish Council is actively working with relevant stakeholders to start delivering the public realm improvements and traffic mitigation measures which have been identified as part of the Horsford Transport Masterplan with the focus currently being on improving the safety of the crossing on Holt Road just a few metres away from the junction with Mill Lane following a serious accident involving a pedestrian on Christmas Eve in 2023. A Puffin Crossing was installed at the Holt Road/Mill Lane junction during October/November 2024 and crossing is now fully pedestrian controlled. Additional lighting has been provided by NCC Highways to make the crossing more visible/safer after dark.
- The Broadland Northway has increased to nearly 14,000 traffic movements a day through the village and the Norwich Western Link Project (NWL), was predicting that this would increase even more. However, the NWL project is suspended for the time being as the decision has been made to withdraw the current planning application and prioritise discussions with the Department for Transport (DfT) on the way forward for the project.