Local Plan - Preferred Options Consultation Document (Reg18)

8 Connected Places

8.1The Local Plan’s strategic objectives for Infrastructure Provision are:

• “To make efficient use of existing transport infrastructure and ensure sustainable and active travel opportunities are promoted in all new development to ensure neighbourhoods and services are walkable and cyclable for the majority of people’s daily needs. Where additional capacity is required in the form of new or upgraded transport infrastructure, to ensure this is provided in a phased and timely way in connection with new development”;
• “To enable provision of upgraded broadband infrastructure and services”; and
• “To ensure that new growth brings opportunities to enhance existing services, facilities and infrastructure for the benefit of existing and new communities”.

8.2The main growth objectives for this Local Plan period are to ensure delivery of new housing to meet demand and help to create new employment for the growing population. To help achieve these objectives, the policies in this chapter of the Local Plan focus upon tackling possible barriers to economic and housing growth caused by weaknesses in the transport and telecommunications networks. The policies are focused upon:

• protecting the main strategic roads in the District and improving these roads where the opportunity/need arises;
• supporting proposals which will enhance the strategic transport network;
• encouraging travel by sustainable modes of transport;
• promoting improved access to, and facilities for, public transport; and
• further developing the provision of higher speed broadband services.

8.3In order to help support the principles of sustainable development, it is important to ensure that everyone living in, working in, or visiting the Tendring District is able to travel and communicate efficiently. Effective telecommunications can reduce the need to travel and thereby help to reduce congestion on the roads, making journeys more efficient and convenient. Where journeys are necessary, providing opportunities for alternative means of transport to the private car is an essential consideration for proposals for new development. Even small-scale developments can increase the likelihood of more car journeys being made unless provision is made within schemes to encourage alternatives.

8.4Although most journeys are made by car, most are over relatively short distances (sometimes as part of a much longer journey) and could often be made by other, more sustainable, modes of transport. Therefore, making good provision within the design of new developments to encourage walking, cycling and public transport use is crucial to achieving sustainable development. Such solutions can have wider public benefits, not only in terms of transportation choices but also for public health and safety, with increased physical activity, well-being and levels of use of public spaces.

8.5New development can provide the opportunity to link places in a sustainable way and contribute to the development of a more efficient transport network. Equally important is to ensure that the existing transport network is protected from any proposed new development which would harm efficiency and safety.

Sustainable Transport and Accessibility

8.6The National Planning Policy Framework promotes sustainable transport solutions. It states that transport issues should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making, using a vision-led approach that identifies and pursues opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use. The Council will work with its partners, including Essex County Council, bus and train operators and the development industry, to improve accessibility, promote sustainable means of transport and reduce dependence upon private car transport.

8.7To achieve sustainable communities, homes, jobs, services and facilities should, ideally, be accessible by a variety of different modes of transport, including walking; cycling; and public transport – not just private cars. Locating development in accessible places gives people the option to use more sustainable modes of transport, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting those members of society who do not have access to a car. Additionally, there are public health and safety benefits to walking and cycling.

8.8The Essex Transport Strategy (2011) is the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and includes Tendring District within the ‘Haven Gateway’. It sets out the transport priorities for the area, which include 5 key outcomes to be achieved:

1. Provide connectivity for Essex communities and international gateways to support sustainable economic growth and regeneration;
2. Reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve air quality through lifestyle changes, innovation and technology;
3. Improve safety on the transport network and enhance and promote a safe travelling environment;
4. Secure and maintain all transport assets to an appropriate standard and ensure that the network is available for use; and
5. Provide sustainable access and travel choice for Essex residents to help create sustainable communities.

8.9The Local Transport Plan (LTP) is supported by a suite of more specific documents including the Bus Strategy, the Cycling Strategy, the Sustainable Modes of Travel Strategy, and implementation plans that are also periodically updated by Essex County Council. Essex County Council is preparing a new Local Transport Plan (LTP4) entitled “A Better Connected Essex Transport Strategy”, which sets out a long-term vision for a safe, inclusive and sustainable transport system. The strategy aims to support economic growth and prosperity, provide access to homes, services, education, work and leisure, and enable more sustainable choices and journeys. It is structured around three key themes: supporting people, health, wellbeing and independence; creating sustainable places and communities; and connecting people, places and businesses.

8.10For Tendring, the LTP4 Implementation Plan recognises the District’s unique coastal and rural character, its ageing population, and the economic opportunities linked to tourism and Freeport East. The plan prioritises:

• Improving access and affordability for residents in areas of high deprivation and low car ownership, through enhanced bus services, demand-responsive transport, and affordable fares.
• Active travel and health by delivering new walking and cycling networks, including links to the England Coast Path and green spaces, and expanding initiatives such as Essex Pedal Power.
• Sustainable growth by ensuring new housing and employment developments are supported by integrated transport planning, including mobility hubs and improved interchange facilities.
• Economic connectivity through investment in strategic corridors such as the A120 and A133, improved rail services (including aspirations for two trains per hour to London from Clacton and Harwich), and better freight access to support Freeport East.
• Environmental resilience by reducing carbon emissions, introducing zero-emission buses, and planning for climate adaptation measures to protect the transport network from flooding and coastal erosion.

8.11This is transitional period for Essex which will see the election of a Mayor for Greater Essex and changes to local governance, with a future Local Transport Plan required for the new Mayoral Combined County Authority. However, Essex County Council considers there are significant benefits in finalising LTP4 now to guide investment and delivery.

8.12To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the Council will support development which uses sustainable modes of transport. Whilst most journeys are made by road, Tendring District is served by 14 railway stations, providing a range of electrified London main line and local branch line services, with regular services from Clacton, Walton and Harwich/Dovercourt to the Colchester railway stations and beyond. The railway is important as both a public transport mode which can provide a sustainable alternative to private car use for work and leisure purposes and an alternative to HGV use for freight transport to and from Harwich International Port.

8.13The Council will support and encourage measures which will make rail use a more attractive and sustainable alternative to the use of private cars for both local journeys and longer commutes and to the use of HGVs for freight transportation. The Council will work with Network Rail to improve rail connectivity in the context of their Industrial Rail Strategy/Route Strategy. Specific infrastructure projects will be integrated into the Infrastructure Delivery Plan.

8.14The main urban areas within the District are located along the coastal fringes and the area has a strong rural heartland where the main means of sustainable transport is by bus. Local buses running within and between settlements are crucial to providing access to jobs and services for many people in towns, villages and rural areas.

8.15The Council will work with Essex County Council and bus operators to ensure coverage across the District, improve services and frequency and seek opportunities to improve bus-stop facilities and provide additional services to support new major development.

8.16Cycling and walking should also be seen as transport modes in their own right and an integral part of the transport network. Increasing the options for travelling by those modes can benefit both the environment and public health, reducing pollution and increasing fitness levels. In this way, planning and transportation outcomes can help to support the wider health and wellbeing agenda. Many car journeys are over short-distances which could be travelled on foot or by cycle if these are attractive options, possibly as part of longer journeys.

8.17Proposals for new development will be required to take account of the need to ensure accessibility, having regard to its location in relation to existing services and facilities, and by providing safe pedestrian and cycle connections to existing networks. As the Tendring District is mainly rural, reliance upon private cars will be inevitable to some extent within its remoter parts. However, the Council will require that measures for sustainable travel at all new developments are investigated and implemented where practicable.

8.18As the Highway Authority for the area, Essex County Council is a consultee in regard to many planning applications. New developments will be required to be acceptable in terms of highway capacity, safety and convenience and to meet the requirements for access and parking which are contained in the latest version of the Essex County Council Development Management Policies, Travel Plan and Parking Standards, or equivalent amended or replacement policies or standards, or any overriding policies in this Local Plan, along with relevant Essex accessibility strategies and design guides. To be sustainable, developments should also be accessible by public transport, cycling and walking.

8.19Parking standards can support measures which promote sustainable transport choices and help to protect amenity. The Council will work with Essex County Council to ensure that local parking standards are fit for purpose and that its assessment of planning applications takes account of factors such as the accessibility of development, the type, mix and use of development; and the availability of and opportunities for public transport.

8.20Provision for Electric Vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure is governed by Building Regulations, specifically Part S: Infrastructure for the Charging of Electric Vehicles. This ensures that new residential and non-residential developments include appropriate EV charging facilities as part of compliance with national standards. Developers should refer to the latest Building Regulations guidance to confirm detailed requirements, as these may evolve over time. In line with the National Planning Policy Framework, proposals should be designed to enable charging of plug-in and other ultra-low emission vehicles in safe, accessible and convenient locations.

Improving the Transport Network

8.21An efficient and effective strategic transport network is critical for achieving economic growth, supporting trade and attracting inward investment, and reducing carbon emissions to help to reduce increases in global warming. Conversely, a network which is unsafe, slow or inconvenient can deter business investment and could harm the area’s tourist economy, which attracts many thousands of visitors, particularly during the main summer holidays.

8.22The delivery of sustainable growth in Tendring District will be supported by the strategic priorities set out in the North East Essex Implementation Plan and the Tendring Coast Implementation Plan, which are part of Essex County Council’s emerging LTP4 and complement this Local Plan by identifying targeted transport and accessibility improvements across the sub-region.

8.23Both plans emphasise the need to improve inclusive and affordable access to key services, particularly in rural and coastal communities where reliance on public transport is high and car ownership is low. Key interventions include:

• Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) measures to enhance reliability, frequency, and connectivity of bus services across Tendring, including upgrades to bus interchanges and roadside infrastructure.
• Expansion of demand-responsive transport options, such as DigiGo, to improve access for residents in rural areas and those with limited mobility.
• Investment in active travel networks, including new and improved walking and cycling routes linking town centres, railway stations, schools, and green spaces.
• Initiatives such as Essex Pedal Power in Clacton, Jaywick, Harwich, and Dovercourt will be extended to promote healthier lifestyles and affordable travel.
• Digital innovation and connectivity improvements, including faster broadband and 5G coverage, to support remote access to services and reduce the need for travel.

8.24Strategic highway enhancements, such as improvements to the A133 corridor and better integration with rail services, including proposals to increase train frequency between Clacton and London.

8.25The Council will work with its partners, including National Highways, Essex County Council, bus and train operating companies, Network Rail and landowners, to safeguard and to explore opportunities to improve the District’s strategic transport network. It will seek to make the transport network safer and more efficient, in order to: facilitate growth, trade and inward investment; help to improve the quality of life for local residents; and improve the experience for visitors to the District and will encourage improvements to the quality and frequency of rail and bus services and station facilities and their appearance.

8.26The major roads forming part of the District’s strategic transport network are the A120 and A133. Both routes include sections which require upgrading in order to improve safety and convenience and to function efficiently in the context of significant future housing growth. For the A133, between Colchester and Clacton, the Council will work with Essex County Council (the Highway Authority) to identify the nature and cost of improvements needed, seek sources of public funding and consider the use of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) to secure contributions towards these works. An upgrade of the A120 is a requirement of the planned port expansion at Bathside Bay, Harwich although this is not expected to take place early in the plan period. The Council will work with National Highways and other partners to investigate ways of funding and delivering possible early improvements and will resist any development proposals in the vicinity of the A120 which could jeopardise its upgrading, widening or re-routing.

8.27Major growth areas in Tendring will require new strategic highway and public transport infrastructure, which will not only serve the development areas themselves but also provide for two major new roads, to ensure that traffic is able to move through and between settlements efficiently, thereby helping to ease traffic congestion that otherwise would occur. A strategic link road between the A120 and A133 and Rapid Transit System will be required to support the Tendring Colchester Borders Garden Community.

8.28The Council will explore, in partnership with Essex County Council, Suffolk County Council, Babergh District Council and Network Rail, opportunities to improve the A137 and railway crossing/underpass at Manningtree Station. Any new developments likely to increase use of this route may be required to contribute towards such improvements. In addition, the Local Plan recognises the importance of appropriate facilities for freight and logistics, including lorry parking. Applications for dedicated lorry parks will be assessed against criteria set out in Policy CP2 to ensure they meet operational needs while safeguarding residential amenity, highway safety, and environmental quality.

Improving the Telecommunications Network

8.29The National Planning Policy Framework promotes the expansion of electronic communications networks, including both telecommunications and high-speed broadband. Smarter use of such technologies can reduce the need to travel and thereby contribute to sustainability objectives.

8.30In recent years, major improvements in computer and mobile phone technology and the growing use of the internet have radically changed the way business is carried out and how people shop, learn and socialise. This technology has become essential for businesses and a fundamental part of everyday life. In the future, it will make geographic location less of a consideration for some types of businesses and for areas like the Tendring District. Where geography has been a disadvantage in attracting certain kinds of business in the past, embracing the digital revolution is one of the most positive things the District can do to make the area more viable as a place to do business, in offices, shops, factories and warehouses, or people’s homes.

8.31Ensuring that the Tendring District’s communications network achieves wide coverage and is fast and reliable is critical to achieving growth of the local economy; helping existing businesses to expand and new businesses to establish, whilst improving access for residents to online shopping, services and information. The Council will work with the telecommunications industry to ensure that as many parts of the District as possible have access to the internet (particularly ultrafast broadband, wireless hotspots in public spaces and at least 5G mobile coverage) and to encourage the use of this technology (or superior new technology), not only for business but also Council and other public services, information and educational resources.

8.32The District will see the evolution of digital provision in relation to Primary Care as a result of the ‘Digital First’ approach to primary care investment. Practices within Primary Care networks will enable digital first options to improve fast access to primary care, reducing waiting and travelling time for patients, services will include outpatient follow up appointments and medication reviews. Consequently, the need for high-speed broadband access and flexibility in terms of the provision of digital health infrastructure to any new housing development is crucial in order to ensure the success of the Digital First approach.