6. Transport Strategy

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that transport policies have an important role to play in facilitating sustainable development and in contributing to wider sustainability and health objectives. Key messages include that the transport system needs to be balanced in favour of sustainable transport modes, giving people real choice about how they travel. Local Plan policies are expected to aim for a balance of land uses to encourage people to minimise journey length for employment, shopping, leisure, education and other activities.

Transport is a critical factor to Thanet's aspirations for sustainable economic regeneration. Thanet's residents need to go to work, school, shops and to access other services as part of their daily lives. Goods need to be moved to support employment and economic growth. Thanet does not at present suffer significant levels of congestion, traffic noise, pollution and delays such as experienced in urban centres elsewhere in Kent. A high proportion of Thanet's population has no access to a car. However this has potential to change and some traffic congestion already occurs at certain junctions at peak times. Thanet has an attractive environment and is a pleasant place to live and work. Its environment is also a potential asset in attracting investment. The intention is to maintain that situation while attracting and accommodating appropriate development in support of regeneration. Accordingly, key actions will be to manage mobility by putting in place an efficient and effective, sustainable transport system.

With Port Ramsgate, Thanet has a potentially significant international Gateway function important for economic development across the region. The introduction of high speed trains connecting Thanet with the High Speed 1 (HS1) service has reduced journey times from Ramsgate to London by over 30 minutes. Manston Business Park is a location of strategic importance. A travel plan will be required alongside planned growth to promote sustainable travel, particularly by the workforce.

Kent County Council's Local Transport Plan (Delivering Growth without Gridlock, 2016-2031) identifies strategic transport projects to support Kent's sustainable economic growth. One of the identified strategic priorities is journey time improvements and Thanet Parkway Railway Station. It also identifies a number of local priorities for Thanet:

• Inner circuit of new and improved highway routes, including improved links to Westwood Cross
• Bus priority measures
• Improve sustainable transport options in Westwood
• Westwood Relief Strategy - Westwood Road to Margate Road Link
• Margate junction improvements
• Ramsgate Port investment
• Public realm improvements in the coastal towns

The Council is also working with Kent County Council to prepare a Transport Strategy for the district which supports the development proposed through the draft Local Plan.

The Transport Strategy is informed by transport modelling of the draft Plan proposals, and seeks to address key transport issues, including those related to the development identified in this Plan. It includes proposals for cars, public transport, walking and cycling. The key new road infrastructure is set out under Policy SP47.

Thanet's services and most employment sites are clustered in and around the coastal centres and Westwood. These are close to Thanet's existing communities, including the deprived neighbourhoods, and highly accessible by public transport including the frequent "Loop" bus.

An efficient and convenient public transport system and direct walking and cycling routes need to be at the heart of the transport network to reduce the risk that growth may cause traffic congestion, noise and air pollution, or isolate disadvantaged communities.

Within the context of an established development pattern, the most significant change likely to generate demand for travel will result from new housing development. It is necessary, therefore, to consider the location of development in areas accessible to a range of services on foot and by public transport, preventing urban sprawl and improving local high streets and town centres. Methods such as providing showers and changing facilities in employment related development and locating cycle parking close to town centres/entrances will also help reduce the need to travel by car.

Thanet and Kent County Council are jointly preparing a Thanet Transport Strategy to help increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the transport system, achieve a shift to more sustainable travel patterns and modes and to identify the transport infrastructure and improvements required to support implementation of the Local Plan. The following sections address challenges identified in the draft Strategy.

Guiding the location, scale and density of new development is an important way of reducing the need to travel, reducing travel distances, and making it safer for people to use alternatives to the car. Consistent policies directing location of travel generating uses will also guide infrastructure investment further supporting integration of transport and land use.

The draft Transport Strategy aims to promote walking, cycling and use of public transport as well as improvements to the road network to facilitate sustainable choice and safe and convenient travel. Where the need for improvements arises wholly or largely from proposed development the developer will be expected to contribute towards required improvements as set out in the draft Transport Strategy and the draft Infrastructure Delivery Plan (IDP).

While this Plan seeks to increase use of sustainable modes of transport, people will continue to make use of private cars and planned growth will increase travel demand. There are a number of locations where traffic flow issues need to be addressed. These are "Victoria" traffic lights Margate, Coffin House Corner Margate, Marine Terrace Margate, Dane Court Roundabout Broadstairs and the "Spitfire" junction. Any new transport links also need to serve new development and relieve the pressure on the urban route network.

The Council, together with Kent County Council, is proposing a new Inner Circuit, which is set out under the Strategic Routes Policy SP47.

Thanet's location in the south east corner of England has previously been seen as a disincentive to investors, but now the transport infrastructure in place offers attractive business opportunities with an integrated transport hub, maximising on the potential of HS1 from Ramsgate and the port. Recent years have seen the completion of the A299 Thanet Way and its new connection to the now completed A299/A256 improvements. This road infrastructure gives direct connectivity between the ports of Dover and Ramsgate, and the rest of Britain's strategic road network.

Prospective investments in line speeds along the domestic link to HS1 will result in further significant reduction in journey times between Thanet and London. The Council will continue to lobby for investments to secure further improvements to rail journey times for CTRL including domestic services between Ashford and Ramsgate.

The introduction of faster trains on the Ramsgate to St Pancras route, utilising the High Speed rail link (HS1) means that Ramsgate is only 76 minutes from London for much of the day. As a result, Thanet has the potential to become a more attractive location for people employed in London seeking to live in a more pleasant environment.

Kent County Council, through its Local Transport Plan 'Growth without Gridlock', and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, through its Strategic Economic Plan support the provision of a new Parkway railway station to the west of Ramsgate close to Cliffsend village. In promoting delivery of the project, Kent County Council has identified a preferred location west of Cliffsend.

Thanet District Council supports the principle of a new railway station at a suitable location along the rail-side area west of Ramsgate. The following policy safeguards land at the preferred location west of Cliffsend for the Parkway project including an area for car parking and a road access to the A299/A256 roads. In addition the Council will continue to investigate and press for improvements to the running times of trains between Thanet and Ashford with a view to reducing the journey time from the Parkway to less than 60 minutes to London.

In supporting the principle of a new railway station, emphasis will be placed on its accessibility by public transport and road (including sufficient car parking) for established and planned residential areas. New housing development is proposed on the edge of Ramsgate and at the village of Cliffsend in close proximity to the new railway station.

The Council, with KCC, has carried out a high-level assessment of the potential of the Local Plan proposals on the strategic road network, to a methodology agreed with Highways England, notably in relation to the Brenley Corner junction with the M2, and the junctions of the A256 with the A2 near Dover.

This work has concluded that the potential impact is very limited, and not significant in the context of wider traffic patterns at these junctions.

Kent County Council and Thanet District Council are preparing a new Transport Strategy for the District, which includes proposals for new and improved roads and junctions; enhancements to bus and train services and an expansion of the cycling/walking network.

The key element of the emerging Strategy is the development of a proposed "Inner Circuit" to serve new development and reduce pressure on the existing network. This incorporates a new bypass for Birchington; a relief road for Westgate; connections to Westwood from the north-west and south; and improved connections to Manston Business Park, and should bring benefits to the wider road network. It is intended that the Inner Circuit schemes will incorporate provision for buses and cycling.

The key element of the emerging Strategy is the development of a proposed "Inner Circuit" to serve new development and reduce pressure on the existing network. This incorporates a new bypass for Birchington; a relief road for Westgate; connections to Westwood from the north-west and south; and improved connections to Manston Business Park, and should bring benefits to the wider road network. It is intended that the Inner Circuit schemes will incorporate provision for buses and cycling.

The exact routes identified in Policy SP47 may vary as detailed plans for the strategic urban extensions come forward and more detailed transport evidence becomes available. The review of the Local Plan will need to respond to the decision on the Development Consent Order for Manston Airport, and this may result in a variation of the alignment identified in relation to the B2050 Manston Road (from Manston Court Road to Spitfire Junction).

Potential measures to manage interim traffic impacts include:

• Localised widening within existing verge areas
• Localised narrowing and priority working systems to manage traffic flow
• Alternative routes
• Localised weight restrictions for HGVs, linked to positive signing strategies for routeing larger vehicles