Part One: Spatial Strategy and Policies (Regulation 19)

Comment

Representation ID: 1286

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

We note that the Policies Map recognises the A491 and A456 but does not acknowledge the potential for cross-boundary movements utilising the A451 and B4551. However, these routes are included in the transport modelling report. We support the preferred approach (para 3.35) that the unmet housing and employment land needs can be met without requiring development opportunities in the Worcestershire County Council local authority area. However, given the proximity of the Plan area to Worcestershire and the key highway links connecting the county to Dudley
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Borough, there is the potential for cross
-boundary movement to utilise Worcestershire’s transport network, particularly the A491 Hagley Road and A456 Birmingham Road, but also the A451 Stourbridge Road and B4551 Bromsgrove Road. Therefore, mechanisms need to be identified to determine the potential impacts on these routes and the associated solutions to those impacts.

Support

Representation ID: 1287

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

We support the principles in the vision of sustainable urban growth, more accessibility and promoting more active forms of travel, especially public transport and a network of footpaths and cycleways providing connections to the countryside around the borough (para 4.1). We also support (Table 4.1) Strategic Priority 7 - Delivering the resources, infrastructure and services to support growth by: successfully addressing borough-wide infrastructure needs and maximising the efficient use of existing infrastructure capacities; exploring opportunities for new sustainable infrastructure, including through delivering an enhanced footpath and cycleway network within the borough; and ensuring appropriate and timely delivery of infrastructure to support new developments.

Support

Representation ID: 1288

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

The Dudley Borough Spatial Strategy (Section 5) focusses on growth and development across the borough. WCC will continue to be interested in the regional connections, monitoring, and mitigation measures for the largest Regeneration Corridors (RC) and those closest to the WCC highway and transport network. Namely:
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RC2 - Dudley to Brierley Hill to Stourbridge
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RC3 – Stourbridge to Lye
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RC4 – Lye to Halesowen
We support Dudley Council’s policy (Policy DLP6 3d para 6.19) to secure infrastructure provision from future planned development and new guidance for integration with infrastructure within adjoining local authority areas, and that the Plan acknowledges the importance of delivering new homes in places with good sustainable transport and access to key residential services (para 8.8).

Support

Representation ID: 1290

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

We support the key characteristics of Strategic Employment Areas (para 9.33) that sites are to be highly accessible to the Strategic Highway Network and to have good public transport accessibility.
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Comment

Representation ID: 1295

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

WCC welcomes this acknowledgement of the A491, however the infrastructure schedule (Part 2 – Infrastructure Delivery Schedule) which accompanies the IDP document, and which identifies numerous transport schemes for active travel, public transport, and highways at the strategic and local level, does not include capacity improvements and/or mitigation measures for cross-boundary movements with WCC.
In the absence of a Monitor and Manage policy commitment, the current uncertainties of future travel patterns are such that WCC are concerned that unacceptable impact may arise. Modifications to policy text (adequate ‘Monitor and Manage’ processes) would address this and help to provide surety that development would not have any unacceptable cross-boundary highway impacts.

Comment

Representation ID: 1296

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

As set out in our Regulation 18 response (December 2023), WCC has concerns that the PRISM model network does not extend to Hagley or the northern-most extents of Worcestershire’s highway network (except for the 1km buffer around the study area). WCC would seek to review the PRISM transport model, Local Model Validation Report, data collection reports and any forecasting reports. As such, and without sight of the above-mentioned information, this confirms the need for a ‘Monitor and Manage’ approach to help to provide surety that development would not have any unacceptable cross-boundary highway impacts

Support

Representation ID: 1298

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

We support that the housing and employment land needs can be met without requiring development opportunities in the Worcestershire County Council local authority area. We would, however, recommend that a ‘Monitor and Manage’ approach would be appropriate to provide sufficient surety that development would not have unacceptable cross-boundary highway capacity and safety impacts.

Support

Representation ID: 1299

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

We support that the housing and employment land needs can be met without requiring development opportunities in the Worcestershire County Council local authority area. We would, however, recommend that a ‘Monitor and Manage’ approach would be appropriate to provide sufficient surety that development would not have unacceptable cross-boundary highway capacity and safety impacts.

Support

Representation ID: 1301

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

We support that highway improvements (para 16.21) will be expected to address the needs of all users, especially pedestrians and cyclists, and to cater for bus priority in line with current Government guidance. We also support ensuring that both new developments and existing facilities identify travel and transportation impacts and proposals for mitigation maximised by Transport Assessments and Travel Plans and there is accessibility by a choice of sustainable modes of transport (para 16.28).