Producing transport assessments for Croxley View

Watford Community Housing Trust (WCHT) commissioned us to provide transportation advice and produce Transport Assessments to support phases 2-4 of a residential scheme at Croxley View in Watford.

As the scheme developed, we decided to proceed with two separate applications; one for phase 2 comprising of 86 dwellings, and a second for phases 3 and 4 comprising of 181 dwellings.  Our Development Planning team provided design advice on the layout options for all phases and produced two Transport Assessments; one for each application.  Phases 2-4 formed a continuation of Croxley View Phase 1 which we had previously advised on and is now constructed. 

Throughout the development of the layouts for phases 2-4, we advised on matters relating to access by all modes. We ensured the development met the policy requirements relating to car and cycle parking, and access for refuse and emergency vehicles.

Process

Our multidisciplinary team identified potential issues with the site layout and developed a design that met policy requirements.  We considered the potential impacts of the scheme proposals, and undertook assessment using industry-recognised methodologies to determine the extent of potential impacts through the Transport Assessments. 

We proposed a Travel Plan to mitigate any negative impacts, and detail how we will encourage travel by sustainable modes. 

During this process we considered the potential impacts of the scheme based on the characteristics of the local area.  These considerations included impacts on local parking, road safety and junction performance amongst other factors. 

Our comms team held a public consultation event = to engage with local residents. We collected feedback from the consultation and added into the assessments undertaken.

Vehicle tracking was undertaken in CAD to ensure the proposed layouts could accommodate all expected vehicle movements. It was also to ensure larger vehicles such as refuse vehicles and fire appliances could turn within the site. 

Our team evaluated whether the future development of parking demand would overspill onto surrounding streets and cause an increase in parking stress.  The analysis served to check whether our measures would be sufficient to accommodate all demand, without a negative impact to existing on-street parking.

The impact of our transport assessment

During the development of the proposals, the council asked our multidisciplinary team to assist on developing an improvement scheme on Croxley View.  We designed a layout that delivered the requirements of:

• improving bus stop facilities,
• improving public realm,
• providing traffic calming,
• formalising / increasing on-street parking,
• improving links from the new development to a park.

We incorporated a bus stop build-out, and designed seating areas as ‘gateway feature’ to the par. It functions as a pocket park in itself whilst serving the bus stop and strengthening links into the park.