Key Transport was first instructed in March 2016 by developer Abacus Projects/Deeley Freed Estates to provide transport planning advice with respect to a mixed-use development including up to 400 new homes on land west of the Goodrington area of Paignton and now named Inglewood.
Early investigation of highway solutions included an option to construct a new dual carriageway through the site to replace the existing A classified road along the eastern site frontage. However, this option encompassed significant environmental impacts and liaison with the highway authority, Torbay Council, led to agreement that the existing road should be improved on its existing alignment, with access to the development being provided at a new four arm roundabout.
Local access improvements are proposed to provide good pedestrian and cycle connections between the development site, which includes a two-form entry primary school with nursery and public house, to the adjacent, existing residential area. The sustainable travel proposals also include a substantial funding subsidy to enable a local bus service to be extended to serve the site.
After investigation of the development’s traffic impact at a range of offsite junctions along the so-called Torbay Western Corridor, Key Transport identified that mitigation measures were required at two nearby junctions, where highway improvement proposals were developed and agreed with the Council.
In November 2017 a planning application was submitted to Torbay Council for the development, and the package, assembled by lead consultant Stride Treglown, included a Transport Assessment, Travel Plan and environmental statement transport chapter prepared by Key Transport. The application aims to support the wider aspirations of Torbay Council to promote a positive and ambitious growth strategy centred on the delivery of jobs and housing.
Of general interest, the scheme includes mitigation to ensure that there are no significant environmental impacts, particularly in relation to protected bat and bird species, while tree planting is proposed to reduce potential visual impacts.