P7.5: Transport Assessment

The Transport Assessment should assess the impact of the proposed development / proposals on the highway network and establish any necessary works and mitigation to address identified issues, as well as set out a strategy to ensure the accessibility of the proposals to all via sustainable modes of transport.

Given the frequent complexity of transport related issues and the various traffic models and assessment processes it is vital that an early dialogue is established with the Local Highway Authority to agree the scoping of such an assessment and the methodology to be applied. This should also establish what data/analysis already exists that could be utilised to avoid abortive work and possible delay later in the application process.

In addition since traffic issues are often raised by third parties and local communities at consultation stages it is advisable to prepare a non-technical summary as part of the overall submission to explain the position in an easy to understand format.
The review and approach to site access, on site movement and the relationship with wider off-site networks should also be explained through the Design & Access Statement and be formalised into a parameter plan.