Following our long-standing working relationship with Bellway Homes we were asked to assist with their Reserved Matters Planning Application for a site in Sturminster Newton. As part of our works, we were asked to review the approved access arrangements which appeared over engineering for a Dorset Village.
The Brief
In the first instance we were asked to review the access arrangements secured as part of the outline planning application (not prepared by Bellway Homes) which provided a roundabout access to deliver up to 114 dwellings. Within this review we identified a simple priority junction would be sufficient to serve the development and was considered to be more appropriate for the scale of development being proposed. We therefore supported a Section 73 application to amend this. Following this we were asked to support the Reserved Matters Planning Application with a Reserved Matters Transport Statement and Travel Plan.
The Approach
To support the S73 application we prepared a detailed access design supported by visibility splays and swept path analysis and summarised our findings in a report. For the Reserved Matters planning application we prepared a RM Transport Statement which focused on the highway elements of the internal site layout, such as, car parking provision and layout, ensuring refuse and fire vehicles can navigate the site layout and reviewing the internal road geometries to ensure these were sufficient and met standards. We also prepared a Travel Plan which identified a package of measures to be implanted to help residents travel more sustainably.
The Result
The Reserved Matters Planning Application received consent in April 2022 and construction begun in August 2022. Residents are now starting to move in.