Draft Bradford District Local Plan - Preferred Options (Regulation 18) February 2021

Comment

Representation ID: 15832

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

Policy TR1: Strategic Transport Delivery provides a comprehensive list of strategic transport schemes that picks up both existing schemes and emerging schemes.

We note and support the approach to list the active travel modes and public transport modes before highways schemes.

However, as presented, it is unclear what the policy is. The supporting text paragraph 4.6.8, which states ‘In an effort to manage and improve the existing highways, public transport, walking and cycling networks, which will deliver the aspirational growth proposed through the Local Plan and other regeneration initiatives, the Council will support, safeguard and prioritise a programme of strategic improvements. Strategic transport investment and management priorities of the District are as follows:’ would be more usefully included in the policy itself and not in the supporting text.

We note under proposed Policy TR1 at B3 there is reference to protecting rail sidings and extension sites. The Policy needs updating as it currently states ‘at sites xx’ and we would welcome engagement on developing this Policy. We would expect the detail on this to be informed by Network Rail.

Comment

Representation ID: 15834

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

We welcome and support the principles contained in Policy TR2: Transport and Environment. The role transport schemes have in contributing to improving places including the natural and built environments, is acknowledged in the draft West Yorkshire Connectivity Infrastructure Plan.

However, the Policy does not currently refer to reducing CO2 emissions from transport, which is the highest emitting sector, contributing 44% of total regional CO2 emissions. These emissions are predominantly from road transport, particularly private vehicles. Our approach is to build green and blue infrastructure into our schemes which will support biodiversity, whilst minimising transport’s contribution to carbon emissions. This could be cross referenced within the Policy.

Comment

Representation ID: 15836

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

The WY Transport Strategy includes targets to significantly increase the number of trips made by bus, rail, bicycle and walking and to reduce trips by car. Achieving these targets is, in part, reliant on complementary planning policy which supports these goals.

We are therefore encouraged that Policy TR3: Integrating Sustainable Transport and Development provides a clear policy steer that will help deliver the WY Transport Strategy objectives by making best use of existing public transport networks and considering future transport investment proposals.

Comment

Representation ID: 15837

Received: 24/03/2021

Respondent: West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA)

Policy TR5: Parking, will help achieve the transition from car to sustainable transport modes by reducing parking in accessible locations which is supported.

However, further work is needed to better articulate what the council considers to be ‘high public transport accessibility’. The accessibility criteria in Appendix 6 is broadly based on the revoked Yorkshire and Humber Regional Spatial Strategy (2008). In principle, these standards provide a useful starting point for measuring accessibility but could be further refined. The Combined Authority can assist in developing the accessibility criteria to make them more relevant and measurable.

It would also be useful to cross reference the emerging Combined Authority Developer Advice Note that begins to detail our approach when responding to planning applications.