Dudley Council

Part Two: Centres and Site Allocations (Regulation 18)

Ended on the 22 December 2023
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Sustainable Transport and Active Travel

1.63 Local Plan Policies DLP67-DLP74 provide the strategic transport policies for the Borough. This section sets out key priorities for Brierley Hill Strategic Centre.     

(6) Policy DLPBH7 Sustainable Transport and Active Travel in Brierley Hill Strategic Centre 

  1. Key schemes and priorities for sustainable transport improvements within Brierley Hill Strategic Centre are identified on the Inset Policies Map and Plan DLP BH4. Development proposals within the centre should ensure alignment with these schemes and provide connections to them to ensure opportunities for sustainable and active travel are maximised. Key schemes and priorities within the Inset Plan area are:
    1. Metro route stops and terminus and associated active travel improvements (including additional cycleways as detailed below).
    2. New cycleway links including along the A461 Corridor linking towards Stourbridge and Dudley with connections to Moor Street, Mill Street and Level Street catchment areas.
    3. New cycleway links along the A4036 Corridor linking Brierley Hill town centre to surrounding residential and employment catchment areas.
    4. Improvement and connectivity to SUSTRANS National Cycle Network (NCN) 54 and Dudley No. 1 Canal.
    5. The Geotrail Walking Route follows the Dudley No. 1 Canal (north) towards Dudley via hop on/hop off metro links or from the canal (southeast) across to Quarry Bank Park and Quarry Bank Local Shopping Centre, and southwest to the Withymoor Playing Fields.
    6. Improved connectivity to the Wednesbury-Brierley Hill Metro Corridor and associated metro stops.
    7. Internal town centre connectivity linking Brierley Hill High Street area to Merry Hill Shopping Centre and The Waterfront.
    8. Improved links to and within Saltwells National Nature Reserve and to Buckpool, Fens Pools and Barrow Hill Local Nature Reserve, also onward connections to Smestow Valley (northwest) and Netherton Park/Bumble Hole Local Nature Reserve (east).
       
  2. Regard should be had to active travel links beyond the Strategic Centre Inset Plan area, including proposed cycle routes along the A461 (linking Stourbridge and Dudley town centres).

Justification

1.64 Brierley Hill is a Strategic Centre in the Black Country for a range of housing, leisure, tourism, and employment opportunities, but further growth requires improvements to public transport, cycling, and walking networks whilst facilitating opportunities for emerging innovations i.e., micro mobility, such as bicycles, e-bikes, and electric scooters.             

1.65 Currently bus provision in Brierley Hill town centre is managed as follows:

  • On road stops serving Brierley Hill High Street
  • Merry Hill Bus Station serving the shopping centre
  • On road stops serving The Waterfront complex

1.66 The High Street stops and shelters have been improved as part of the Brierley Hill Future High Street public realm improvements and provide good direct access to the High Street retail core. However, the public transport/bus offer linking the three areas within the centre (mentioned above) requires improved bus service co-ordination. This will improve the customer experience, improve operational efficiency, and provide high quality bus access into and within Brierley Hill.             

1.67 Given that Brierley Hill Town Centre has no direct access to the national rail network (with Cradley and Stourbridge currently the closest options), the forthcoming Metro will have a key role in enhancing the accessibility for people travelling to and from Brierley Hill Town Centre. In Dudley Borough, the proposed Metro line provides a link from Castle Hill in Dudley Town Centre and then continues west towards Brierley Hill. The Metro will also provide the borough with a connection to the national rail network at Dudley Port.

1.68 There is a need to continue to safeguard the route, proposed metro stops including the terminus at Cottage Street, Brierley Hill as it remains under development and to enable future development sites within the town centre to reflect and complement the new Metro line (supporting economic regeneration and growth).

1.69 Effective management of the Key Route Network (KRN) and its links to the Strategic Road Network (SRN) are integral in supporting increased investment and regeneration in and around Brierley Hill Town Centre. Maintaining and improving the efficiency of the local road network will benefit commuters, visitors and public transport users by reducing congestion and providing more reliable journey times into and out of Brierley Hill. Major Network Scheme improvements, including those to the A461 corridor, are part of this management.

1.70 A 20mph speed limit covering the retail core of the High Street area of Brierley Hill has been implemented as part of the Brierley Hill Future High Street Fund public realm works. Potential expansion of this reduced speed limit would align with national policy which places vulnerable road users at the top of the hierarchy by providing safer and enhanced environments for pedestrians and cyclists. Furthermore, complementary traffic management measures, including improved pedestrian crossing facilities along primary thoroughfares, would be incorporated into this 20mph zone scheme.

1.71 Brierley Hill Centre sits alongside the Sustrans National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 54 (Derby to Stourport), which links to Dudley to the northeast and Stourbridge to the southwest. Improved connectivity to NCN Route 54 is crucial to maximise active travel opportunities. Improved connectivity between Brierley Hill High Street and Merry Hill Shopping Centre supports the west-east link and also reinforces the NCN 54 link via the Daniels Wharf Priority Site. The proposed metro terminus and associated works provides opportunities for links to the Daniels Wharf Priority Site.             

1.72 Essentially a 'hub and spoke' ethos will be developed in Brierley Hill Centre where placemaking efforts will be supported by a network of sustainable transport links to the Key Route Network (KRN), the Strategic Road Network (SRN) and the National Rail Network, whilst also promoting accessibility to other local centres to raise Brierley Hill's offer to its businesses, residents and visitors.             

Figure 1.4: Brierley Hill Transport and Movement Plan

This figure shows the Brierley Hill Transport and movement plan. This includes a proposed pedestrian and cycle bridge over the canal between the Brierley Hill and the Merry Hill Shopping Centre. There is also a walk/cycle/public transport improvement corridor running north to south across Brierley Hill along the Stourbridge Road and Venture Way.

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