Thank you for giving the Highways Agency the opportunity to comment on the above consultations. We are responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's Strategic Road Network (SRN) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport as laid down in the Department for Transport (DfT) Circular 02/2013 (The Strategic Road Network and the Delivery of Sustainable Development). I have attached a link to the circular for your convenience.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/237412/dft-circular-strategic-road.pdf

In the case of Brentwood, this relates directly to the A12 and M25. As a highway authority, part of our role is to facilitate development by accommodating development led traffic on the strategic network where and when it is possible to do so. We do however need to balance this duty with the need to protect the performance of the road network for other road users. We would be concerned if any material increase in queues, delays or safety issues were to occur on these sections of the SRN as a result of development without careful consideration of mitigation measures. To this end we work actively with developers and local authorities throughout the planning process to ensure that appropriate outcomes are achieved within suitable timescales.

We have examined the consultation material and have the following comments

Strategic Growth Options Consultation

The consultation essentially outlines four spatial growth options

Centralised (Brentwood town based)
Transport corridors and Brentwood town
Semi-dispersed
Dispersed

Given our role described above we do not have any preferences in terms of growth locations, but Paragraph 16 of the above circular states that development should be promoted at locations that are or can be made sustainable (consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)). At the present time, without a transport assessment it is difficult to establish if or where there will be increased pressure on the transport network. In previous months we have consulted with you about the approach to any forthcoming transport assessment of preferred development options and are content at the present time that a forthcoming transport assessment will identify road transport impacts.

To help inform your preferred growth strategy we are more concerned with the M25 end of the SRN, particularly Junction 28 that experiences congestion queues and delays in peak periods. By the horizon year of your emerging Local Plan we would expect additional pressures on the junction through traffic growth both from Brentwood and elsewhere. M25 Junction 29 by comparison is relatively underutilised.

We note that there are sites for both housing and employment located adjacent to or in close proximity to the SRN, in particular the A12 but also the M25. Additionally a potential park and ride site has been identified between the A12 and A1023 Chelmsford Road junction. Paragraph 39 of the above circular states that new accesses onto the SRN may be identified and developed within the local Plan where it is essential for the delivery of strategic planned growth, otherwise no new accesses will normally be permitted to the high speed SRN. Any new accesses will need to conform to prevailing design standards (DMRB) and meet stringent safety requirements prior to the Agency being able to support such measures.

Note that for your Local plan we would only examine the transport impact of development without planning consent as opposed to all Local Plan development.

Dunton Garden Suburb Consultation

We note the location of Dunton Garden Suburb in relation to the SRN, in particular the M25 Junction 29. Given that the site would effectively form a suburb of Basildon there is the potential for transport synergy and opportunities to develop a sustainable community alongside an existing and expanded employment base with access to public transport (road and rail) and the opportunity to manage demand with the provision of further local services. We would stress the need to integrate and strengthen the transport links with the adjoining urban area and to consider measures required to manage down private motorised transport of future occupants should the site be included within the emerging Local Plan.

Please also see comments above in relation to the Strategic Growth Options Consultation that equally apply to the Dunton site and consultation.

I hope that you find these comments useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information

Thank you for giving the Highways Agency the opportunity to comment on the above consultations. We are responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's Strategic Road Network (SRN) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport as laid down in the Department for Transport (DfT) Circular 02/2013 (The Strategic Road Network and the Delivery of Sustainable Development). I have attached a link to the circular for your convenience.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/237412/dft-circular-strategic-road.pdf

In the case of Brentwood, this relates directly to the A12 and M25. As a highway authority, part of our role is to facilitate development by accommodating development led traffic on the strategic network where and when it is possible to do so. We do however need to balance this duty with the need to protect the performance of the road network for other road users. We would be concerned if any material increase in queues, delays or safety issues were to occur on these sections of the SRN as a result of development without careful consideration of mitigation measures. To this end we work actively with developers and local authorities throughout the planning process to ensure that appropriate outcomes are achieved within suitable timescales.

We have examined the consultation material and have the following comments

Strategic Growth Options Consultation

The consultation essentially outlines four spatial growth options

Centralised (Brentwood town based)
Transport corridors and Brentwood town
Semi-dispersed
Dispersed

Given our role described above we do not have any preferences in terms of growth locations, but Paragraph 16 of the above circular states that development should be promoted at locations that are or can be made sustainable (consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)). At the present time, without a transport assessment it is difficult to establish if or where there will be increased pressure on the transport network. In previous months we have consulted with you about the approach to any forthcoming transport assessment of preferred development options and are content at the present time that a forthcoming transport assessment will identify road transport impacts.

To help inform your preferred growth strategy we are more concerned with the M25 end of the SRN, particularly Junction 28 that experiences congestion queues and delays in peak periods. By the horizon year of your emerging Local Plan we would expect additional pressures on the junction through traffic growth both from Brentwood and elsewhere. M25 Junction 29 by comparison is relatively underutilised.

We note that there are sites for both housing and employment located adjacent to or in close proximity to the SRN, in particular the A12 but also the M25. Additionally a potential park and ride site has been identified between the A12 and A1023 Chelmsford Road junction. Paragraph 39 of the above circular states that new accesses onto the SRN may be identified and developed within the local Plan where it is essential for the delivery of strategic planned growth, otherwise no new accesses will normally be permitted to the high speed SRN. Any new accesses will need to conform to prevailing design standards (DMRB) and meet stringent safety requirements prior to the Agency being able to support such measures.

Note that for your Local plan we would only examine the transport impact of development without planning consent as opposed to all Local Plan development.

Dunton Garden Suburb Consultation

We note the location of Dunton Garden Suburb in relation to the SRN, in particular the M25 Junction 29. Given that the site would effectively form a suburb of Basildon there is the potential for transport synergy and opportunities to develop a sustainable community alongside an existing and expanded employment base with access to public transport (road and rail) and the opportunity to manage demand with the provision of further local services. We would stress the need to integrate and strengthen the transport links with the adjoining urban area and to consider measures required to manage down private motorised transport of future occupants should the site be included within the emerging Local Plan.

Please also see comments above in relation to the Strategic Growth Options Consultation that equally apply to the Dunton site and consultation.

I hope that you find these comments useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information

Thank you for giving the Highways Agency the opportunity to comment on the above consultations. We are responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's Strategic Road Network (SRN) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport as laid down in the Department for Transport (DfT) Circular 02/2013 (The Strategic Road Network and the Delivery of Sustainable Development). I have attached a link to the circular for your convenience.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/237412/dft-circular-strategic-road.pdf

In the case of Brentwood, this relates directly to the A12 and M25. As a highway authority, part of our role is to facilitate development by accommodating development led traffic on the strategic network where and when it is possible to do so. We do however need to balance this duty with the need to protect the performance of the road network for other road users. We would be concerned if any material increase in queues, delays or safety issues were to occur on these sections of the SRN as a result of development without careful consideration of mitigation measures. To this end we work actively with developers and local authorities throughout the planning process to ensure that appropriate outcomes are achieved within suitable timescales.

We have examined the consultation material and have the following comments

Strategic Growth Options Consultation

The consultation essentially outlines four spatial growth options

Centralised (Brentwood town based)
Transport corridors and Brentwood town
Semi-dispersed
Dispersed

Given our role described above we do not have any preferences in terms of growth locations, but Paragraph 16 of the above circular states that development should be promoted at locations that are or can be made sustainable (consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)). At the present time, without a transport assessment it is difficult to establish if or where there will be increased pressure on the transport network. In previous months we have consulted with you about the approach to any forthcoming transport assessment of preferred development options and are content at the present time that a forthcoming transport assessment will identify road transport impacts.

To help inform your preferred growth strategy we are more concerned with the M25 end of the SRN, particularly Junction 28 that experiences congestion queues and delays in peak periods. By the horizon year of your emerging Local Plan we would expect additional pressures on the junction through traffic growth both from Brentwood and elsewhere. M25 Junction 29 by comparison is relatively underutilised.

We note that there are sites for both housing and employment located adjacent to or in close proximity to the SRN, in particular the A12 but also the M25. Additionally a potential park and ride site has been identified between the A12 and A1023 Chelmsford Road junction. Paragraph 39 of the above circular states that new accesses onto the SRN may be identified and developed within the local Plan where it is essential for the delivery of strategic planned growth, otherwise no new accesses will normally be permitted to the high speed SRN. Any new accesses will need to conform to prevailing design standards (DMRB) and meet stringent safety requirements prior to the Agency being able to support such measures.

Note that for your Local plan we would only examine the transport impact of development without planning consent as opposed to all Local Plan development.

Dunton Garden Suburb Consultation

We note the location of Dunton Garden Suburb in relation to the SRN, in particular the M25 Junction 29. Given that the site would effectively form a suburb of Basildon there is the potential for transport synergy and opportunities to develop a sustainable community alongside an existing and expanded employment base with access to public transport (road and rail) and the opportunity to manage demand with the provision of further local services. We would stress the need to integrate and strengthen the transport links with the adjoining urban area and to consider measures required to manage down private motorised transport of future occupants should the site be included within the emerging Local Plan.

Please also see comments above in relation to the Strategic Growth Options Consultation that equally apply to the Dunton site and consultation.

I hope that you find these comments useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information

Thank you for giving the Highways Agency the opportunity to comment on the above consultations. We are responsible for operating, maintaining and improving England's Strategic Road Network (SRN) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport as laid down in the Department for Transport (DfT) Circular 02/2013 (The Strategic Road Network and the Delivery of Sustainable Development). I have attached a link to the circular for your convenience.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/237412/dft-circular-strategic-road.pdf

In the case of Brentwood, this relates directly to the A12 and M25. As a highway authority, part of our role is to facilitate development by accommodating development led traffic on the strategic network where and when it is possible to do so. We do however need to balance this duty with the need to protect the performance of the road network for other road users. We would be concerned if any material increase in queues, delays or safety issues were to occur on these sections of the SRN as a result of development without careful consideration of mitigation measures. To this end we work actively with developers and local authorities throughout the planning process to ensure that appropriate outcomes are achieved within suitable timescales.

We have examined the consultation material and have the following comments

Strategic Growth Options Consultation

The consultation essentially outlines four spatial growth options

Centralised (Brentwood town based)
Transport corridors and Brentwood town
Semi-dispersed
Dispersed

Given our role described above we do not have any preferences in terms of growth locations, but Paragraph 16 of the above circular states that development should be promoted at locations that are or can be made sustainable (consistent with the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)). At the present time, without a transport assessment it is difficult to establish if or where there will be increased pressure on the transport network. In previous months we have consulted with you about the approach to any forthcoming transport assessment of preferred development options and are content at the present time that a forthcoming transport assessment will identify road transport impacts.

To help inform your preferred growth strategy we are more concerned with the M25 end of the SRN, particularly Junction 28 that experiences congestion queues and delays in peak periods. By the horizon year of your emerging Local Plan we would expect additional pressures on the junction through traffic growth both from Brentwood and elsewhere. M25 Junction 29 by comparison is relatively underutilised.

We note that there are sites for both housing and employment located adjacent to or in close proximity to the SRN, in particular the A12 but also the M25. Additionally a potential park and ride site has been identified between the A12 and A1023 Chelmsford Road junction. Paragraph 39 of the above circular states that new accesses onto the SRN may be identified and developed within the local Plan where it is essential for the delivery of strategic planned growth, otherwise no new accesses will normally be permitted to the high speed SRN. Any new accesses will need to conform to prevailing design standards (DMRB) and meet stringent safety requirements prior to the Agency being able to support such measures.

Note that for your Local plan we would only examine the transport impact of development without planning consent as opposed to all Local Plan development.

Dunton Garden Suburb Consultation

We note the location of Dunton Garden Suburb in relation to the SRN, in particular the M25 Junction 29. Given that the site would effectively form a suburb of Basildon there is the potential for transport synergy and opportunities to develop a sustainable community alongside an existing and expanded employment base with access to public transport (road and rail) and the opportunity to manage demand with the provision of further local services. We would stress the need to integrate and strengthen the transport links with the adjoining urban area and to consider measures required to manage down private motorised transport of future occupants should the site be included within the emerging Local Plan.

Please also see comments above in relation to the Strategic Growth Options Consultation that equally apply to the Dunton site and consultation.

I hope that you find these comments useful. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you require any further information