Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)
Active Travel
16.39. The development of sustainable modes of travel to encourage 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.
16.40. 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.
16.41. 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.
Figure 16.2 Spatial Strategy Plan: Active Travel
Policy DLP71 Active Travel Comment
- Joint working between Dudley Council, neighbouring authorities, Transport for West Midlands, West Midlands Combined Authority, Canal and River Trust, Active Travel England 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- The following networks and other linkages within Dudley Borough are considered priorities for potential enhancement and expansion as cycle routes and strategic footpaths. This includes their signposting and delineation, and their environment upgraded with an emphasis on enhanced green infrastructure.
- SUSTRANS Link 54 (Stourport-Brierley Hill-Dudley)
- SUSTRANS Link 81 (Dudley/Coseley)
- The canal network
- The River Stour (Stour Valley) active travel network
- The Geo-Park/Geo-Trail active travel network
- Disused railway lines, for example: Smestow Valley active travel network
- The 9 Mile Walking Route from Norton Covert, Stourbridge, to The Leasowes, Halesowen
- Monarch's Way
- Links to existing centres
- National and regionally recognised footpaths
- Links to public transport nodes, stops and interchanges
- Within accessible neighbourhoods, to readily access local services and facilities
Justification
16.42. 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. The development of comprehensive cycle and walking networks within Dudley will enable communities to access employment, public transport interchanges, services, and facilities in a sustainable way.
16.43. 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 through new development 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.
16.44. 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.
16.45. 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 emerging 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.
16.46. 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 - Wolverhampton via Dudley and Sandwell to Birmingham
- 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.
