Regulation 19 - Proposed Draft Local Plan Submission

Required Transport Assessments for housing growth areas should consider the cumulative traffic impacts upon the Strategic Highway Network including the A6 through Oadby and the A563 linking to Fosse Park and Junction21 of the M1. Development should be conditional upon contributions to solutions to mitigate such impacts and should not just rely on sustainable transport measures.

There must be a positive mechanism to ensure large housing developments contribute to significant improvements to the Strategic Highway Network such as a new link road to the south of Leicester linking with a new junction on the M1. This is needed to reduce pressure on the already congested A6 through Oadby and the A563 linking to Fosse Park and the M1 junction 21.

A positive mechanism is required to ensure the the strategic housing developments cannot proceed until there are contributions towards the delivery of a new strategic link road round the south of Leicester and linking to a new junction on the M1.

A positive mechanism is required to ensure the strategic housing developments cannot proceed until there are contributions towards the delivery of a new strategic link road round the south of Leicester and linking to a new junction on the M1.

A positive mechanism is required to ensure the the strategic housing developments cannot proceed until there are contributions towards the deliver of a new strategic link road round the south of Leicester and linking to a new junction on the M1.

This policy focuses mainly on sustainable transport such as bus services and cycling. It does not recognise that specific strategic highway improvements that are necessary for the 3,150 houses proposed not only in Harborough at Land South Of Gartree Road and Great Glen, but also the 850 in Oadby & Wigston's Local Plan. This growth in housing will inevitably generate increased traffic levels, with significant impact on the highway network. Given the existing congestion on the A6 through Oadby and the A563 passing from the A6 to Fosse Park and J21 of the M1, this impact should not be denied with the hope that sustainable transport with handle the issues. The principal area for the creation of new jobs is at Fosse Park/Meridian Business Park near J21 of the M1 and what with the additional retail floorspace at Fosse Park, this will be a significant attraction to residents of the new growth area in the Plan. The South Leicestershire Joint Transport Evidence refers to this in its section on Key Impact Area D but considers it as a long term issue that cannot be dealt with in the short term.
The Government is now proposing additional housing in the Borough and adjoining Districts to the South of Leicester, e.g. Whetstone Pastures Garden Village and so it is critical that the impacts upon the highway network are addressed and revisited. A new South Leicestershire Joint Transport Evidence paper is required which includes more realistic modelling, particularly for the Key Impact Area D. it should look at delivery of the strategic option of a new link road round the south of Leicester linking the A6 at Great Glen round to the M1.