Dudley Council

Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 18)

Ended on the 22 December 2023
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The Efficient Movement of Freight

16.27 New freight railways and rail sidings could present an economic opportunity for Dudley businesses. Improved journey times on the highway network will support economic prosperity and switching traffic to rail or inland waterways will relieve the highway network of traffic, thereby reducing congestion and improving air quality and the environment. The siting of businesses producing heavy flows of freight vehicles in locations with good access to the principal highway network will also assist with environmental improvement. Improvements to the freight network are a significant element to achieving sustainable communities, environmental transformation and economic prosperity.

(3) Policy DLP70 The Movement of Freight

  1. The movement of freight by sustainable modes of transport such as rail and waterways will be encouraged. Road-based freight will be encouraged to use the Key Route Network whenever practicable. 
  2. Junction improvements and routeing strategies will be focussed on those parts of the highway network evidenced as being of particular importance for freight access to employment sites and the motorway network.  
  3. Proposals that generate significant freight movements will be directed to sites with satisfactory access to the Key Route Network. 
  4. Existing and disused railway lines will be safeguarded for transport or movement related uses where appropriate. 
  5. Sites with existing and potential access to the rail network for freight will be safeguarded for rail-related uses.

Justification

16.28 Within the Black Country, freight traffic has always been particularly important reflecting the area's past level of manufacturing and it remains significant today with industry, distribution and logistics giving rise to much freight traffic. This is reflected in both the M5 and M6 motorways, where the proportion of heavy goods vehicles can be 30% of total traffic, and the local road network where the traffic on many main routes has an exceptionally high percentage of heavy goods vehicles.

16.29 Heavy Goods Vehicles account for 21% of all transport emissions with Light Duty Vehicles accounting for 13%, meaning the road freight sector contributes 34% of transport emissions, despite freight representing just 19% of all vehicle miles undertaken in the UK. Making the most efficient use of the highway network whilst providing facilities to transfer freight from road to rail and inland waterways will play a major part in achieving the region's climate change targets.

16.30 The design and layout of much of the KRN dates from a period when goods vehicles were significantly smaller and lighter than those currently in use and this gives rise to problems of reliability and with deliveries and servicing. In many cases upgrading of these routes is neither economically viable nor environmentally desirable.

16.31 Dudley Council is a member of the West Midland's Freight Quality Partnership, as are freight operators and their national representative bodies. The Regional Freight Strategy (2016) sets a context for planning for freight within Dudley. Removal of freight from the road to rail or canal will reduce congestion, and support investment in rail and canals.

16.32 The railway network serving the region suffers from capacity problems during the day when there is high demand for passenger services, and this has shifted much freight traffic to night-time operation. Of the disused lines the most important is Stourbridge-Walsall-Lichfield, which has been identified in the Regional Freight Strategy as being an important link for freight moving between the southwest and northeast regions. Within the West Midlands conurbation, the Stourbridge to Lichfield link would act as a bypass for the rail network around Birmingham which has severe capacity constraints. The capacity released by the reopening of Stourbridge-Walsall-Lichfield link, as well as benefiting the freight network, would allow extra passenger services to operate to and through Birmingham to the benefit of the wider West Midlands.

16.33 The Regional Freight Strategy notes a shortage of private sidings in the West Midlands Region. Sites with existing or potential rail access along existing and proposed freight routes particularly Stourbridge - Walsall and Walsall - Lichfield will be protected for rail related uses.

16.34 The Freight Strategy notes the need to address the increased importance of 'last mile' logistics and the role that transport innovation can play in this, e.g., parcel hubs and EV charging for delivery vehicles.

Evidence

  • West Midlands Freight Strategy - Supporting our Economy, Tackling Carbon (TfWM 2016)
  • Black Country and Southern Staffordshire Regional Logistics Site Study (CBRE 2013)
  • West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan - Movement for Growth (TfWM 2016) Movement for Growth - 2026 Delivery plan for Transport (TfWM 2017)
  • West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan (Core Strategy) – Reimagining transport in the West Midlands (TfWM 2023 and ongoing)
  • Black Country Transport - Connected for Growth (BCLEP and TfWM 2019)
  • West Midlands' Key Route Network Evidence Report (TfWM 2018)

Delivery

  • The West Midlands Freight Strategy will guide the delivery of measures to improve the movement of freight. The rail-related elements will ultimately be delivered through a combination of Network Rail and the private sector against the background of the national Rail Investment Strategy and the regional freight strategy.
  • The overarching responsibility for the development and improvement of the Key Route Network sits with the West Midlands Mayor and Transport for West Midlands, in partnership with the Local Highway Authority. The framework for improvement forms part of Movement for Growth with implementation guided by a series of Key Route Network Corridor Action Plans.

Active Travel

16.35 The development of sustainable modes of travel and encouraging people out of their cars, particularly for shorter and commuter journeys, is an important element of planning and transport strategy. Places need to be well-connected with attractive, convenient, direct and safe routes available to non-car users, thus providing real choice.

16.36 The cycle network in the West Midlands consists of three tiers: -

  • The National Cycle Network (NCN) – identified and developed by Sustrans in partnership with local authorities and shown on the Transport Key Diagram. This network provides long distance routes across the country linking major destinations.
  • The Metropolitan Network (known as the Starley Network) – identified by WMCA in Movement for Growth and developed through the West Midlands Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (WM LCWIP). These routes link strategic locations in the West Midlands and are also shown on the Transport Key Diagram
  • Local Networks – this builds upon the West Midlands LCWIP, and includes the Black Country LCWIP and Dudley's emerging Sustainable Route Network.

16.37 The emerging Black Country and Dudley Networks for Cycling will provide greater detail on the Dudley sections of the West Midlands LCWIP and will identify the most important links in the Local Network.

(4) Policy DLP71 Active Travel 

  1. Joint working between Dudley Council, neighbouring authorities, Canal and River Trust and other regional strategic Highway Authorities and Active Travel England will ensure that a comprehensive, integrated, attractive and well-designed cycle and footpath network is created, improved and maintained to serve the West Midlands region, which the existing and proposed networks within Dudley Borough can connect to and integrate with.   
     
  2. New development will link to existing walking and cycling networks, through safe and direct pathways, not impeded by infrastructure provided for other forms of transport, unless there is robust evidence provided as to why this is not viable and/or practical. 
     
  3. Cycle parking facilities should be provided at all new developments and should be in convenient locations with good natural surveillance, with   the number of cycle parking spaces required in new developments and in public realm schemes determined by local planning guidance. The   design of cycle infrastructure should be in accordance with the principles and standards contained in the West Midlands Cycle Design Guidance (TfWM 2021), Local Transport Note 1/20 or superseding guidance. 
     
  4. The following networks and other linkages within Dudley Borough are considered priorities for potential enhancement and expansion as cycle routes and strategic footpaths, including their signposting and delineation, and their environment upgraded with an emphasis on enhanced green infrastructure:
    1. SUSTRANS Link 54 (Stourport-Brierley Hill-Dudley).  
    2. SUSTRANS Link 81 (Dudley/Coseley). 
    3. The canal network. 
    4. The River Stour (Stour Valley) active travel network. 
    5. The Geo-Park/Geo-Trail active travel network. 
    6. Disused railway lines, for example: Smestow Valley active travel network.
    7. The 9 Mile Walking Route from Norton Covert, Stourbridge, to The Leasowes, Halesowen.
    8. Monarch's Way.  
    9. Links to existing centres. 
    10. National and regionally recognised footpaths. 
    11. Links to public transport nodes, stops and interchanges.
    12. Within accessible neighbourhoods, to readily access local services and facilities. 

Justification

16.38 It is essential that the development of walking and cycling facilities are an integral part of the transport system both on the highway network, canal corridors, Public Rights of Way and on other paths. Comprehensive cycle and walking networks within Dudley will enable communities to access employment, public transport interchanges, services, and facilities in a sustainable way. A transport network that facilitates car use and disadvantages walking and cycling can adversely affect the health and wellbeing of its communities. Identifying and overcoming barriers to walking and cycling during development processes will encourage a renaissance of walking and cycling within Dudley and help improve the health and wellbeing of local communities by reducing the incidence of obesity, coronary heart disease, strokes, and diabetes. Both walking and cycling are active modes of travel with clear health benefits. The implementation of such networks recognises the specific requirements of each with dedicated, segregated cycling provision being the default objective along with a comprehensive network of walking opportunities available both on highway and off road.

16.39 Walking and Cycling Strategies are incorporated within Movement for Growth and its successor. The over-arching framework is the West Midlands Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). This will be supported by the Black Country LWCIP and emerging Dudley LWCIP. Work is underway on a Sustainable Local Travel Routes Plan which will inform Dudley's LWCIP. All new cycle facilities will aim to be designed in accordance with guidance set out in Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/20 and TfWM's Cycle Design Guidance, or superseding guidance.

16.40 Several cycle route corridors are being progressed for future development, including those in and around the borough's strategic and town centres (see the relevant sections for further details). These link into wider borough corridor projects which currently include:

  • A4123 from Wolverhampton via Dudley and Sandwell to Birmingham (Hagley Road)
  • A4101 Stourbridge Road/Queens Cross to Scott's Green Island (links into Sustrans Route 54 improvements)
  • A461 Dudley Port (Sandwell), Burnt Tree to Queens Cross through to Bretell Lane, Audnam (via Brierley Hill)
  • A456, Manor Way- M5 junction 3 to Hayley Green
  • A458 (key sections)
  • Smestow Valley, Pensnett to Holbeche House (west of Ham Lane).
  • Improvements to existing cycle corridors.

Evidence

  • West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan - Movement for Growth (TfWM 2016) Movement for Growth - 2026 Delivery plan for Transport (TfWM 2017)
  • West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan (Core Strategy) – Reimagining transport in the West Midlands (TfWM 2023 and ongoing)
  • Black Country Transport Priorities Document (BCA 2020)
  • West Midlands Local Cycling & Walking Investment Plan (TfWM 2019)
  • Black Country Cycling Strategy (BCA 2021)
  • Black Country Plan Transport Modelling Study (2021)
  • West Midlands Cycle Design Guidance (TfWM 2021)

Delivery

  • The Metropolitan Cycle Network will be delivered through the West Midlands Local Cycling & Walking Infrastructure Plan. Funding will be sought from a variety of competitive and devolved sources such as the Transforming Cities Fund and Intra-City Transport Fund.
  • The delivery of most local cycle links will be through the Local Cycling & Walking Implementation Plan (LCWIP) and Sustainable Local Travel Routes Plan.
  • The Black Country's extensive network of canals affords numerous opportunities to contribute to the delivery of a comprehensive network of safe, off-road, cycle routes. The Canal & River trust will therefore be a key delivery partner.
  • Where appropriate opportunities afforded by Highways England's Designated Fund Programme will be utilised. This aims to address specific issues such as safety and severance resulting from the interface between the Strategic Road Network and local routes.
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