brentwood.gov.uk

Transport and Highways -
BBC commissioned PBA to assess the impact of options for strategic development within the Borough in the coming years. The `Brentwood Borough Local Plan Development Options - Highway Modelling' was published in draft form as part of the 2016 consultation. The draft Report set out the approach of PBA to highway modelling, the results of the modelling and junction assessments, and highlighted those worse performing junctions that may require mitigation, to enable the development sites to come forward.

4.38 ECC reviewed PBA's draft Report in 2016, and provided a significant number of comments and concerns to BBC. ECC highlighted that there were still areas of the methodology that would benefit from further clarification, and aspects of the modelling that would need to be revisited.

4.39 ECC highlighted that any further modelling work would need to consider a number of matters including:
* Rebuilding of forecast matrices to account for revisions made to development numbers contained in the Local Plan,
* Recalculation of trip rates to also account for sustainable travel,
* Consideration of background growth to incorporate fuel efficiency and income growth factors,
* Validation of base model outputs to observed conditions,
* Sensitivity testing of forecast model assignment,
* Determining how the model can be improved to provide a more accurate assessment of cross-boundary impacts,
* Remodelling of all junctions currently in scope of assessment, accounting for uneven lane usage, peak hour demand profiles and the impact of pedestrian movements.

4.40 ECC also advised that no analytical work had been undertaken on the strategic route network (A12 and M25) or in relation to the A127, which given the level of growth required, raised concerns.

4.41 The A127 is a vitally important primary route for the South Essex area which connects the M25, Brentwood, Basildon and Southend (including London Southend Airport). A major aim of ECC is to improve journey time reliability along this route. There is significant growth planned along the A127 corridor in adopted and emerging Local Development Plans along its entire route, which will need to be considered in any highway modelling in terms of capacity, key junctions and access.

4.42 The impacts of the preferred route of the LTC will need to be assessed and factored in to the further modelling in support of the Draft Plan. It is considered that the LTC would have an impact on/ and opportunities for the Brentwood Borough as well as the wider transport network across South Essex and beyond. A new LTC will fundamentally change the dynamic of strategic transport movements within and across Brentwood and Greater Essex.

4.43 ECC is clear that the further modelling work needs to clearly illustrate the local and cumulative impact on the local and strategic transport network, to demonstrate that the proposed spatial strategy is the most appropriate, and to identify any mitigation measures which would be required. Any mitigation required will need to be clearly stated in the relevant policies.

4.44 ECC, as the Highway Authority, needs to be engaged on the further modelling work, to be satisfied with the approach, assumptions and outcomes, in order to provide support to BBC in the plan preparation process and at examination. As previously requested ECC require BBC to incorporate a review process, at the end of each stage, into the modelling programme.

4.45 BBC has begun work to address the outstanding issues and ECC are engaging with BBC and PBA to progress this. However, until this appropriate highway modelling has been undertaken, and ECC has reviewed and confirmed satisfaction of the work, ECC continues to withhold support for the Draft Plan.