Sustainable transport strategy for Wrexham Road

Challenge

This development of 1,300 residential dwellings on a green belt site has been promoted through the Cheshire West & Chester Council (CW&C) Local Plan process.

The site, which lies south west of the City Centre, benefits from a sustainable location adjacent to a park and ride site, a bus lane on Wrexham Road with frequent services and local facilities that reduce the need to travel.

Solution

SLR supported the allocation of the site in the Local Plan, entering into early negotiations with CW&C to promote its sustainable transport credentials.

A transport statement was produced which set out a sustainable transport strategy for the development. This included a demonstration of the adequacy of the preferred access strategy and that off-site improvements, including a Pinch Point Scheme could accommodate the proposals.

Impact

This information was included in the Development Principles document and a masterplan used to promote the inclusion of the site within the Local Plan Strategic Policy. Close liaison with CW&C transport officers ensured they had the evidence needed to defend the policy at the Examination in Public.

We then prepared a transport assessment to support a planning application for the sustainable urban extension, which was granted in 2019.