Highways Planning Guide

April 2004

This Highways Planning Guide is an informal document. Ithas not been adopted by the Council and does not over-rulethe Unitary Development Plan or any other specifications.

The guide provides highway-related information fordevelopers submitting planning applications in Westminster.

Comments on the document will be appreciated and shouldbe submitted to an address shown in the Feedback form.

A separate Westminster guide entitled Design and Implementation ofHighway Schemes Associated with Development25 gives guidance on theimplementation of highway improvements.

Martin LowAssistant Director of Transportation

CONTENTSPage

1 INTRODUCTION 1

2 PRE-APPLICATION 1

3 SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION 23.1 Drawings 23.2 Supporting statement 33.3 Traffic information 33.4 Safety Audits 43.5 Crime reduction measures 5

4 DESIGN CRITERIA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT 54.1 Accessibility 54.2 Pedestrians 64.3 Cycle parking 64.4 Car parking 64.5 Servicing 8

5 DESIGN CRITERIA WITHIN THE HIGHWAY 85.1 Access to the highway 85.2 Drop-off facilities 95.3 On-street parking 95.4 Doors and building access 95.5 Vertical clearances 105.6 Tables and chairs 105.7 Temporary licences to use the highway 10

6 HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS 106.1 Footways 106.2 Cyclists 116.3 Street furniture and street clutter 116.4 Street lighting 126.5 Traffic calming 126.6 Planning conditions and obligations 12

7 APPENDICES 137.1 Transport assessment 137.2 On-site parking requirements 157.3 Garage dimensions 177.4 Parking bay dimensions and typical vehicle sizes 187.5 Plan of Strategic Routes 197.6 Access and visibility 207.7 Tables and chairs 217.8 Footways and cycleways 227.9 Vertical clearances 24

8 CONTACTS 258.1 Feedback form 27

9 REFERENCES 28

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1 INTRODUCTION

This Guide is intended to provide assistance and information on highway matters relating toplanning applications in the City of Westminster.

Most residential or commercial developments will have some effect upon the types and volumes ofvehicles, pedestrians and other road users. They may create accesses, alter parking or have othereffects upon the existing highway network.

The objective of this Guide is:

� To encourage planning applicants to discuss their proposals with the HighwaysPlanning Team at the City of Westminster at an early stage to maximise the benefitsof the development and to minimise any abortive work

� To set out what should be provided with a Planning Application, so that theHighways Planning Team at the City of Westminster may assess the applicationpromptly and without need to refer back to an applicant unnecessarily

� To set out the highway and traffic planning standards that are expected to be usedwhen making a planning submission

� To advise on procedures for highway improvements

2 PRE-APPLICATION

First contact should be with Development Planning Services (DPS) of the Planning and CityDevelopment Department. DPS has three Area Teams covering the northern, central and southernsections of the city and initial contact is normally by telephone or emailC1 or via the One StopServices Planning DeskC2. Thereafter, large or complex proposals will be required to submitinformation in writing1. The Planning Case Officer will give initial comments and may recommenddiscussions with other Council officers, including the Highways Planning TeamC3.

The Highways Planning Team of the Environment and Leisure Department provides advice onhighway related issues affecting a proposal. Early contact and discussion with the team isrecommended, so that their extensive knowledge of the highway network and their professionalexperience can be used to resolve highway issues, so as to maximise the benefits of the developmentand minimise any abortive work.

Contact by telephone or email may be all that is required for small or residential proposals. Large orcomplex proposals may require someone to visit City Hall for a meeting, or series of meetings, withpreliminary scale drawings and photographs.

Although some information will have been submitted to DPS, please assist the Highways PlanningTeam by having the following information ready-to-hand:

� Address of the development site� Existing use of the site� Proposed use of the site� The floor area or an indication of the size of the development� Access proposals� Details relating to your highway concern

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3 SUBMISSION OF AN APPLICATION

A Planning Application Form is obtained and submitted to Development Planning Services directly,or via the Council’s One Stop Services. The Form has requirements for certain information to besubmitted. However, additional information is often required for highway issues either at pre-application or upon submission of an application.

The following information is provided to assist applicants with providing highways relatedinformation. The extent of the documentation and the need to supply all parts will increase with thecomplexity of the proposals.

3.1 Drawings

3.1.1 Site Location Plan

A Site Location Plan as submitted to DPS should also be provided to the Highways Planning Team.The plan should normally:

� Be to a scale of 1:1250� Be on an Ordnance Survey Map background� Show the boundary of the site or show a property clearly marked by a bold symbol� Have north at the top with a North Point marker

3.1.2 Site Layout Plan

A Site Layout Plan at street level and additional plans for basements and other floors with highwayimplications are required and should:

� Be to a scale of 1:50, 1:100, 1:200 or 1:250 (1:250 is the smallest to provide sufficient detail)� Show the street names along street frontages

The plans should show details of the existing and proposed works, including:

� Kerb lines� Footways� Projections onto and over the highway� Access points and crossovers� Vaults and the position of pavement lights or vents� Car parking and cycle parking on-site� Critical dimensions

Depending upon the nature of the development, they may also need to show:

� Stopping-up or dedication of highway� Road markings, including bus stops and parking restrictions with any proposed alterations� Loading facilities (including internal service routes) with any proposed alterations� Visitor setting down/pick up points� Cycle parking on-street� Motor cycle parking on-street� Visibility splays� Critical vehicle swept paths at junctions, bends and turning positions� Street lighting, traffic signs, bus shelters, street furniture and trees� Existing highway drainage systems with any proposed alterations

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All plans must reflect the full extent of the proposals and be accurate. For complex developments,it may be necessary to assist the reader by splitting information onto separate drawings. OrdnanceSurvey mapping can be unsuitable for detailed plans and will require all critical dimensions to beverified on site and clearly dimensioned on all plans prior to submission.

3.1.3 Longitudinal and Cross Sections

Longitudinal and Cross Sections are required at all pedestrian and vehicular thresholds between theroad and the site. Additional sections are required for the full length of all accesses to undergroundor on-site parking and for the full extent of any part of the building over or under the highway.They should:

� Be of a consistent scale to the plans (1:50, 1:100, 1:200 or 1:250)� Show ramps and gradients� Show vaults and basements under the highway

3.2 Supporting statement

A supporting statement is necessary with the highways assessment. It should include informationon:

� Adjacent sites controlled by the applicant� Highway boundaries and any stopping-up or dedication proposed or required� Existing and proposed land uses with their floor areas� Compliance with the Council’s cycle parking requirements and how the location maximises

convenience and security for users� Compliance with the Council’s car parking requirements� Provisions for unloading, loading, refuse collection,

setting-down and picking-up points� Impact of traffic changes on noise and nuisance,

particularly to nearby residences� The Access Strategy and Statement� Photographs showing highway features relevant to the site

3.3 Traffic information

3.3.1 General Traffic Information

General Traffic Information is required for all developments on any changes to:

� Traffic generation for all forms of vehicles and pedestrians� Congestion and capacity� Loading and delivery requirements� Parking on-site and on-street for vehicles and cycles� Provision for public transport, cyclists and pedestrians� Access for disabled people

3.3.2 Detailed Transport Assessment

A detailed Transport Assessment, involving traffic surveys and covering a range of transportconditions and predictions is required for developments exceeding the sizes specified in Appendix7.1). A less detailed Transport Assessment is often requested for smaller developments, including

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residential developments as low as 20 units. It may only need to cover a limited number of issues,such as access, parking and effects on the local environment.

Applicants should discuss the need to supply a Transport Assessment with the Highways PlanningTeam at an early stage. Agreement will be required on the scope of the assessment, as detailed inAppendix 7.1, and the most appropriate times and methods for collecting transport data.

3.3.3 Travel Plan

A Travel Plan is a general term for a package of measures tailored to the needs of individual sitesand aimed at promoting greener, cleaner travel choices and reducing reliance on the car. It involvesthe development of a set of mechanisms, initiatives and targets that together can enable yourorganisation to reduce the impact of travel2 and transport on the environment, whilst also bringing anumber of other benefits to your organisation as an employer and to staff.

The Travel Plan tries to promote development that supports more sustainable travel choices andreduces the need to travel. The plan may involve physical or behavioural measures for:

� Reducing car usage – particularly single occupancy journeysand increasing the use of public transport, walking and cycling

� Reducing traffic speeds – to improve road safety, particularlyfor pedestrians and cyclists

� Environmentally friendly freight movements – particularlyhome delivery services and water based transport

The City Council will seldom require a Travel Plan because themajority of developments are too small to warrant a plan, or thedeveloper is entirely separate from the eventual employer, and at thetime of application details of future employees are not known.However, a Travel Plan may be required for any planning applicationslikely to have significant transport implications, including mosteducational establishments. These Travel Plans should be capable ofanswering most highway related objections received to the application.

3.3.4 Assessment of the traffic information

Assessment of the traffic information by the Highways Planning Team, will be in accordance withthe Pre-Inquiry Unitary Development Plan3 Policy Trans 14, and recommendations could include:

� The impacts of the development are acceptable in transport terms� The development would become acceptable if scaled down to reduce the impacts� Servicing facilities need to be improved� Car or cycle parking provision needs to be altered� Insufficient consideration was given to the requirements of disabled people� Highway improvements (including pedestrian and cycle facilities) are essential or desirable as

a result of the development� New or improved public or community transport is desirable to improve the modal split� The proposed development is unacceptable in terms of its impact on the highway network

3.4 Safety Audits

A Safety Audit4 may be required for a development that alters the layout or use of the highway andis considered to change the risk of accidents. It is a formal and systematic appraisal to eliminate

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potential highway hazards and to ensure that the highway is as safe as possible for all users. It canassist in identifying the best solution where there are options, including the most attractivepedestrian or cycle routes and the safest position for a proposed point of access.

A Stage 1 Preliminary Design Safety Audit should occur as early as possible because it may require achange in the design concept and may be requested as part of the Planning Application. A Stage 2Detailed Design Safety Audit and a Stage 3 After Construction Safety Audit will be undertaken later.The audit should be carried out by an individual who is independent of the design team and shouldgenerally follow the Guidelines for the Safety Audit of Highways5.

3.5 Crime reduction measures

All development must actively seek to reduce crime and the fear of crime in accordance with theCrime and Disorder Act 19986 and as recommended in Designing out crime in Westminster, A guide toplanning an attractive and safe environment7.

Recesses at the edge of the highway should be avoided and all areas should have natural surveillanceby residents and visitors, with overlooking of communal areas, including footways, accesses and carparking, to provide a deterrent to the opportunist criminal, anti-social behaviour and vagrancy.Advice should be obtained as early as possible from the City Council’s Crime Prevention DesignAdviserC4.

Street lighting should have ‘white light’ to highlight hazards and avoid the creation of shadowswhich may promote criminal activity. Advice can be obtained from the City Council’s StreetLighting ManagerC5.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)8 may be desirable and the supplementing or upgrading of theexisting Westminster CCTV system may be requested. Advice can be obtained from the CityCouncil’s Crime & Disorder Reduction / CCTV TeamC6.

4 DESIGN CRITERIA ON THE DEVELOPMENT SITE

4.1 Accessibility

An accessible environment must provide for everyone. Useful dimensions are available in the Metrichandbook, Planning and design data9.

To meet central government criteria, in Planning and Access for Disabled People – A Good Practice Guide10,disabled access must be considered at theconception of the design.Means of access for disabled people must be withina development and must have no impact,temporary or permanent, on the highway.

Ramps should conform to BS 830011 or Part M of theBuilding Regulations 200412 and should not be steeperthan 1:20, with no ramp section longer than 10metres or rising more than 500 mm. Assistance canbe obtained from Westminster’s Access OfficerC7.

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4.2 Pedestrians

Pedestrian needs must be met in accordance with the Pre-Inquiry Unitary Development Plan3 Policy Trans3, with particular regard to:

� Adequate width to cater for existing or proposed pedestrian flows, as Appendix 7.8.� Ease of movement for people with a mobility or sensory impairment� Safe and attractive routes and road crossings� Minimising journey times by providing the most convenient and direct routes that follow

desire lines, including the provision of public walkways and cycle routes.

4.3 Cycle parking

All developments are required, by the Pre-Inquiry Unitary Development Plan3 Policies Trans 10 and 11, toprovide on-site cycle parking in accordance with Appendix 7.2.

Staff bays should be secure and thedevelopment should make provisionfor showering and changing facilities.Lockers should be provided whereappropriate.

Visitors bays should be accessible.Developers of retail units and othernon-residential uses may be requestedto provide cycle parking bays or acontribution towards bays on-streetfor general visitor use in a shoppingor business areaC8.

Cycle parking stands should notobstruct the footway. A tapper railshould be installed on the stand at theends of rows and on isolated stands toaid the visually impaired and toprovide space for parking signs.Details of a Sheffield standard design are shown in Appendix 7.8.

4.4 Car parking

4.4.1 Residential car parking

� Applicants are expected to meet the car parking needs of a development within the curtilageof the development. The maximum parking standard, as shown in Appendix 7.2, forresidential development, should not be exceeded. However, developers are encouraged toprovide off-street parking to the maximum limit because the on-street resident’s parkingscheme is heavily over-subscribed throughout the city.

� Any developer who wishes to provide less than one parking bay per residential unit mustprovide supporting documentation to demonstrate that its parking demand will not createon-street parking problems. The minimum sizes for residential garages are shown inAppendix 7.3 and parking bays are shown in Appendix 7.4.

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� The parking layout should provide accessible bays for disabled users, designed and markedup to conform to the Inclusive Mobility13 guide for at least 10% of both the market andaffordable units to cater for long term needs in accordance with Pre-Inquiry Unitary DevelopmentPlan3 Policy H9. Pedestrian access must cater for disabled users.

� Where the parking demand cannot be met on-site and may create an on-street parkingdemand in excess of 80% of bays available to residents, as specified in the Pre-Inquiry UnitaryDevelopment Plan3 Policy TRANS 23, the development will be resisted unless the potentialimpact of cars being parked on street is mitigated.

� Access to the road for front garden14 or forecourt parking will be resisted, in accordancewith Pre-Inquiry Unitary Development Plan3 Policy TRANS 26, especially where it involves theloss of existing on-street parking.

4.4.2 Non-residential car parking

� No parking will be permitted for shop customers in accordance with Pre-Inquiry UnitaryDevelopment Plan3 Policies TRANS 22(A) and SS12(C).

� At least one bay should be provided for disabled badge-holders. At least 20% of any parkingspaces should be designed and accessible for disabled users in accordance with Pre-InquiryUnitary Development Plan3 Policy TRANS 21(E). Pedestrian access must cater for disabledusers.

� Parking for staff or visitors, other than for disabled people, is not required but may beprovided up to the maximum levels in the Pre-Inquiry Unitary Development Plan3, Appendix 4.2as shown in Appendix 7.2.

� Private forecourt parking will be resisted in accordance with Pre-Inquiry Unitary DevelopmentPlan3 Policy TRANS 26.

4.4.3 Parking garages

Vehicles entering and exiting a parking garage15 must not interfere with the use of the highway andthe following are some of the main issues of concern:

� Footway crossover width should be minimised for pedestrian safety and accesses widerthan 7.3 metres must be split in two. See Appendix 7.6.

� Visibility is required for pedestrians on the footway as well as to the carriageway.� Ramps should be no steeper than 1:20 for 5.0 metres (minimum 3.0 metres) prior to

entering the highway, as shown in Appendix 7.3.� The maximum ramp gradient should be 1:10, although 1:8 is acceptable for small

buildings and 1:7 for a level difference not exceeding 1.5 metres. A transition is requiredfor all ramps steeper than 1:10, as shown in Appendix 7.3.

� Ramp widths must meet the minimum values in Appendix 7.3.� A 5.0 metres long waiting area must be provided on-site for any one-way ramp or access

control. A longer length may be required to accommodate any queues and to preventany waiting on-street or reversing into the street.

� The ramp, lift or signal controls must be designed for the capacity of the garage.� Turntables are acceptable for access to difficult spaces.

4.4.4 Car stacking systems

All spaces within car stacking systems must be independent, so that a vehicle does not have to bemoved to permit the storage of another vehicle, except where there is long-term valet-operatedparking. Proposals for car stacking systems must consider any need to provide space formotorcycles and address access problems for disabled users.

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4.5 Servicing

Deliveries16 and refuse collection17 should be on-site with adequate storage and space for parkingand manoeuvring of vehicles within the site. However, vehicular access onto a site is often notpossible because the site is too small or the site is an existing building that cannot realistically bealtered.

Where servicing occurs from the road, the Transport Assessment must show that the road canaccommodate the activity without interference to through-traffic and pedestrians. For safety, it isessential to minimise any need for vehicles to reverse within the highway. On-street lay-bys are notnormally permitted because they tend to become obstructed with parked vehicles and they maynarrow the footway creating problems for pedestrians.

5 DESIGN CRITERIA WITHIN THE HIGHWAY

5.1 Access to the highway

5.1.1 Strategic Routes

� Transport for London Road Network - the main signed traffic routes on which throughtraffic should travel and where the priority will be the movement of people and goods. Theyare normally identifiable through the Priority (Red) Route controls.

� London Distributor Roads - routes which provide links, between the Transport for LondonRoad Network, and distribute traffic to neighbouring boroughs. They are, in general, eithersigned local routes, bus routes or routes carrying relatively large amounts of traffic.

A plan of the Strategic Routes is shown in Appendix 7.5.

Applicants should have discussions with Transport for LondonC9 at an early stage, where vehicularor pedestrian access to the development is required from the Transport for London Road Network.Transport for London has, however, a wider interest in planning applications because the Mayor ofLondon can direct refusal on grounds, including transport issues, in relation to the Mayor ofLondon’s Transport Strategy and The London Plan18. Discussions with Transport for London are,therefore, essential when the development may have an effect upon the Transport for London RoadNetwork, for which Transport for London is the highway and traffic authority, or affect the bus,tube and tram systems.

Access to strategic routes will not normally be permitted, in accordance with the Pre-Inquiry UnitaryDevelopment Plan3 Policy TRANS 16, but where permitted a high level of design will be required andaccesses may need signing or traffic signals.

5.1.2 Non-strategic routes

� Local Distributor Roads - routes that distribute traffic to neighbouring boroughs and withinthe city. They are in general either signed local routes, bus routes or routes carrying relativelylarge amounts of traffic

� Local Roads - routes which distribute local traffic and provide access to residential and localcentres. Local Roads are also used by cyclists on longer journeys. The priority on theseroads will be people over traffic.

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Accesses, except for front garden orforecourt parking as stated in sections 4.4.1and 4.4.2, will normally be permittedprovided they do not conflict with existingroad features, such as junctions, otheraccesses, roundabouts, pedestrian crossingsand trees. The applicant may be required toprovide vehicle swept-path drawings todemonstrate that the proposed access cansafely accommodate all vehicles expected touse the site. Accesses should cause the leastpossible interference with the footway andlevel adjustments should occur within thesite. Visibility at the access should beprovided for vehicles, pedestrians and otherroad users, as shown in Appendix 7.6.

An access will normally be:

� Vehicular crossover - Maintains a continuous footway across the access.Suits low usage such as:� Small or minor residential development

� Junction - A new side road interrupting the footway. It is likely to be required at accessespermitted on strategic routes and in other particular circumstances.May be required for:� Residential developments exceeding 30 bedrooms� Commercial development that attracts more than 100 motor vehicle trips (movements

which would otherwise cross a footway) by cars and motorcycles per day� Commercial development served by Heavy Goods Vehicles

5.2 Drop-off facilities

Any requirement for a setting-down or pick-up point must ensure that public transport provision,particularly bus stops, is not compromised and must consider the implications upon on-streetparking.

5.3 On-street parking

The Council will strongly resist the loss of on-street parking provision because of the residential andcommercial demand. Any on-street parking that conflicts with the development should, if possible,be relocated or replaced.

5.4 Doors and building access

Doors will not be allowed to open onto and obstruct any part of the public highway19as the doorwould present a potential hazard to pedestrians. In rare cases for existing buildings, outwardopening doors may be permitted for security or safety at public buildings or for domestic Mewsgarages where the doors can only be opened from the highway side.

Requests for openings to cellars or vaults from the footway or the construction of grilles withinfootways or the narrowing of the footway for light wells will not be permitted.

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Ramps must be accommodated on the applicant’s site, in accordance with the Pre-Inquiry UnitaryDevelopment Plan3 Policy TRANS 27. No alteration to the footway will normally be accepted.

Lifts for the disabled people or for deliveries must be accommodated on the applicant’s site and notpresent any hazard to users of the highway and particularly the visually impaired.

5.5 Vertical clearances

The minimum clearance for new construction over, or within one metre, of a road is 5.3 metres.Over the rest of a footway the minimum clearance is 2.6 metres, for which a licence is requiredC10,except for blinds C11 as shown in Appendix 7.9.

The minimum clearances for vaults under the highway are shown in Appendix 7.9. Vaults requirePlanning Permission and a Highways Consent16 C10.

5.6 Tables and chairsTables and chairs placed on the highway mustnot obstruct the free flow of pedestrian trafficand they require Planning Permission and aStreet Trading Licence. A plan indicating thearea to be licensed and the number, size andlayout of tables and chairs, and any other itemsto be placed on the highway must be supplied.Guidance on table spacing is given in Appendix7.7 and reference should be made to theWestminster guide, The placing of tables and chairson the highway20.

Planning permission for tables and chairsnormally requires all items to be removed fromthe highway outside the permitted hours.

Planters, tubs and advertisements, e.g. “A” boards, are not normally permitted.

5.7 Temporary licences to use the highway

Temporary structures, scaffolding, skips and any other partial obstruction of the highway orfootway, associated with building construction, will require a licenceC11.

6 HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS

Road design information is contained in Residential Roads and Footpaths, Layout considerations21 butdetailed advice is provided below for Westminster.

6.1 Footways

To allow for the free flow of pedestrians, the Council has requirements for footways as shown inAppendix 7.8. For safety and access reasons, a double row of kerbing, one stepped above the otherto gain height, will not be permitted.

At some time all people have constraints on their mobility, whether this arises from a permanent ortemporary impairment, a pushchair or heavy shopping bags, and will benefit from measures such as

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dropped kerbs or raised crossings. The Council has a programme to install dropped kerbs andtactile paving, but will keep the use of tactile paving to those sites where it is essential.

The Council will request footway improvements from a developer. Occasionally this involvesproviding or completing a footway, but normally involves repaving.

Repaving in isolated sections is visually undesirable and any request for repaving will seek to identifya natural limit as close as possible to the site. Natural limits include a junction, major vehicle accessor other feature that would mask a change in footway quality. The quality of materials is covered bythe Council’s publication The Westminster Way22.

6.2 CyclistsLondon local authorities and Transport for London have identified a network of cycle routes knownas the London Cycle Network Plus. All development is expected to maintain and, whereverpossible, enhance the existing cycle network to provide continuity of routes. Cycleways may be onthe road, shared with pedestrians or preferably segregated as shown in Appendix 7.8. Moreinformation is available in the London Cycle Network Design Manual23.

Development is expected to provide cycle parking on-site, as section 4.3, but for non-residentialfunctions, such as retail, that have numerous visitors, cycle parking must be easily accessible. Thiscan often only be provided on-street. Where there is inadequate local space, cycle parking may beneeded to be positioned at a distance from the development and may even require the Council toaccept a cash contribution towards the general provision of on-street cycle parking.

6.3 Street furniture and street clutter

All street furniture will need to comply with any distinct style of street furniture, including lightingcolumns, seats, bus shelters, litter bins and cycle parking stands that is required in different areas.Consideration must be given to the good practice in street management and design contained in theCity of Westminster guide, The Westminster Way19. Advice on anti-flyposting treatment may also beobtained from the Council’s Anti Graffiti and Fly-Posting UnitC13.

The Council has a policy of reducing street clutter, which includes minimising the use of bollards,barriers and signage poles. A developer will be asked to consolidate the position of street furnitureand signage to improve the visual environment and to minimise interference with pedestrians anddisabled people.

Each development should give consideration to the need forstreet nameplates and property identification to assist emergencyservices and those visiting the premises. This is particularlyimportant where historical naming and numbering of streetsmight create confusion. The designer needs to consultDevelopment Planning ServicesC1 for advice on the mostappropriate location for street name plates and the location forproperty name and number. The procedure for varying numbersis undertaken when the development is being implementedC14.

To minimise clutter, consideration should be given to thefollowing being installed on buildings:

� Standard City of Westminster street nameplates� Street lighting units� CCTV cameras

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6.4 Street lighting

A developer will be required to improve the standard of lighting in the vicinity of the developmentto a level appropriate for the proposed development or to meet current national and WestminsterCity Council standards.

Much of the City is a conservation area and guidance to the correct style of equipment to beconsidered is provided in a planning guide, The Westminster Way19. It should be noted that existingGas Lamps shall generally be retained. The City is keen to keep the footways clear and promote theuse of building mounted street lighting wherever practicable with appropriate wayleaves to beagreed.

During the works period the developer shall ensure that the lighting levels in the highway are notless than existed prior to commencement and any temporary installations will be appropriatelymaintained.

For advice and further guidance on appropriate lighting please contact the City Council’s StreetLighting ManagerC5.

6.5 Traffic Calming

Westminster City Council will not normally seek traffic calming measures to mitigate the effects of adevelopment, but accepts that there may be occasions when applicants will wish to see themconsidered. These will usually be on road safety grounds and where very careful consideration hasbeen given to the needs of emergency services.

6.6 Planning conditions and obligations

Where a developer agrees to do highway improvements, the Council encourages the developer todesign and construct the “Improvement Works”. Alternatively the design or implementation of theworks can be arranged by the City Council.

Control of the highway improvements may be by:

� Planning Condition

A Planning Condition in the Planning Permission may be suitable for minor or well definedworks. A restrictive “Grampian” condition normally prohibits use of the development until therequired works are complete.

� Planning obligations under section 106, Town & Country Planning Act 199024

Highway or environmental works for a development are normally agreed, between the developerand the highway authority, through a planning obligation under a section 106 agreement orundertaking. To determine the cost of the works a developer will need to pay for advancedesign works.

Guidance on the implementation of highway improvements is given in the Westminster guide,Design and Implementation of Highway Schemes Associated with Development25.

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7 APPENDICES

Appendix 7.1 Transport Assessment

A detailed Transport Assessment, involving traffic surveys and covering a range of transport conditions andpredictions is required for developments that could be expected to generate at least one of the followinglevels of pedestrian or vehicular traffic:

A – more than 1,000 one-way person trips per day, orB – more than 500 vehicle movements per day, orC – more that 100 person trips during the peak hour, orD – more that 100 vehicle movements in any single hour, orE – more than 20 heavy goods vehicle (over 7 ½ tonnes) movements per day, orF – any heavy goods vehicle movements between midnight and 6am

As a guide, these levels of traffic could be expected from developments of the following sizes:

Land Use Threshold CriteriaA1: Retail 2,000 m2 GFA A or B or CA3: Pubs/Restaurants 500m2 GFA AB1/A2: Office 2,500m2 GFA CB2-7: Industry 4,000 m2 GFA EB8: Storage/Distribution 4,000 m2 GFA EC1: Hotel 100 bedrooms or any with

conference facilitiesA

C3: Dwellings 200 units A or BD2: Entertainment > 200 person capacity A

* GFA = Gross Floor Area (From UDP Appendix 4.1)

A Transport Assessment should include the following information:

1. Description of development

a) Detailed site plan (min.1:1250)

b) Schedule of floor areas of existing uses

c) Schedule of floor areas of proposed uses

Always required

Always required

Always required

2. Description of base networks

a) Plan showing relationship of site to the surrounding road,public transport, pedestrian and cycle networks

b) Information on traffic flows, accident records, on-streetparking conditions; identification of any critical links andjunctions

c) Information on frequency, reliability and capacity of publictransport facilities within the study area

Study area and base networks tobe agreed with the Council

Not normally required whereonly criteria A or C met

Normally required where onlycriteria A or C met

3. Trip generation

a) Number of person trips generated, categorised by mode oftransport and time of day

b) Number and size of vehicles required to service thebuilding and location of servicing facilities

Always required

Always required

4. Vehicular access & circulation

a) Analysis of junction design for access and egress, usingappropriate computer modelling packages if necessary

Always required where a newaccess is provided or where anexisting access will be moreintensively used

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b) Describe the arrangements for servicing and for providingaccess for emergency vehicles

c) Describe the number, allocation and design of on-siteparking and compare this with Council standards

d) Describe any loss of current on-street parking facilities (e.g.because of the need to provide a footway crossover, taxifacilities, etc.)

Always required

Always required

Always required

5. Pedestrians and cyclists

a) Assess the capacity and safety of exiting pedestrian and cyclefacilities and describe how they are affected by thedevelopment

b) Describe the number, allocation and design of on-site cycleparking and compare this with Council standards

c) Describe design features on or outside the site to assistpedestrians and cyclists, such as the provision of additionalstreet nameplates and improvements to footways, streetlighting, cycle parking and CCTV cameras

Always required

Always required

Always required

6. Public transport

a) Evaluate the accessibility of the site by public transport

b) Identify Railway and underground stations, lines and busservices that will be significantly affected by thedevelopment. Evaluate and quantify impact of additionaldemand on capacity

Always required

Only normally required wherecriteria A or C met

7. Road network

a) Identify junctions and links that will be affected bydevelopment traffic. Quantify and evaluate the reservecapacity, queues and delays at critical junctions

b) Carry out a Safety Audit

Only normally required wherecriteria A or C met

Only required where physicalchanges to the public highwayare proposed

8. People with mobility difficulties

a) Identify measures to make the site accessible for people withmobility difficulties, including access for communitytransport services and designated car parking

Always required

9. Environmental impact

a) The impact of generated traffic on air pollution, vibrationand noise

Only normally required wherecriteria A or C met

10. Parkinga) Justify the level of parking provision as part of the

applicationRequired where any parkingprovision is proposed

11. Conclusions and recommendationsa) Summary of transport impacts

b) Details of remedial measures proposed to alleviate anyidentified problems or evidence that no remedial measuresare necessary

Always required

Always required

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Appendix 7.2 On-site parking requirements

7.2.1 Vehicle parking

The table below details the City Council’s requirements:

Offices, Shops,Industry andWarehousing

Maximum of 1 space per 1,500 sq.m. gross floor space for staff,visitors and servicing (but not shop customers) to include oneadequately proportioned and positioned space for staff and visitorswith disabilities per 6,000 sq.m. gross floor space.

Parking for shop customers will not normally be permitted.

Hotels and relatedactivities withinhotel developments

Car parking facilities will not normally be required. All developmentswill however be required to assess and meet expected demand forparking and servicing from coaches, mini-buses and people withdisabilities.

Entertainment andLeisure uses

Car parking facilities will not normally be required. All developmentswill however be required to assess and meet expected demand forparking and servicing from coaches, mini-buses and people withdisabilities.

Hospitals andMedical Centres

On the merits of each case, but any parking space necessary for peoplewith disabilities, medical staff who have a demonstrable emergencycommitment and emergency vehicles will be provided off-street.

Other non-residential uses

On the merits of each case.

Residentialdevelopment

A maximum of:(a) 1.0 off-street parking space per residential unit of two

bedrooms or less.(b) 1.5 off-street parking spaces per residential unit of three

bedrooms or more.

Special NeedsHousing

1.0 space per 10 residential units, but this may be varied to suitparticular cases.1.0 space per dwelling may be required for housing for people withdisabilities.

16

7.2.2 Cycle parking

The table below details the City Council’s requirements:

Places of work B1/A2

B1

B2–B7

B8

Business Offices. Services

Light Industrial

General Industrial

Warehouses

1 space per 125m2 min. 2 spaces

1 space per 250m2 min. 2 spaces

1 space per 500m2 min. 2 spaces

1 space per 500m2 min. 2 spaces

Shopping A1

A1

A1

Food Retail

Non- Food Retail

Garden Centre

Out of town 1 space per 350m2Town Centre /Local ShoppingCentre 1 space per 125m2

Out of town 1 space per 500m2min. 4 spacesTown Centre/Local ShoppingCentre 1 space per 300m2

1 space per 300m2 min. 2 spaces

Educational D1

D1

D1

Primary Schools

Secondary Schools

Universities/Colleges

1 space per 10 staff

1 space per 10 staff/students

1 space per 8 staff/students

Entertainment A3

A3

A3

D2

D2

Pubs, Wine Bars

Fast Food Take Away

Restaurants/Cafes

Theatres/Cinemas

Leisure, Sports CentresSwimming Pools

1 space per 100m2 min. 2 spaces

1 space per 50m2 min. 2 spaces

1 space per 20 seats min. 2 spaces

1 space per 50 seats min 2 spaces

1 space per 10 staff plus 1 spaceper 20 peak period visitors

Housing C2

C3

Student Accommodation

Flats

1 space per 20 students

1 space per unit

Community D1

D1

C2

Doctor/Dental Surgeries,Health Centres and Clinics

Libraries

Hospitals

1 space per 5 staff plus 1 space per5 staff for visitors

1 space per 10 staff plus 1 spaceper 10 staff for visitors

1 space per 5 staff plus 1 space per10 staff for visitors

Transport Bus/Rail Stations Meet local demand

17

5.0m 3.5m

4.9m

typical double disabledmimimum

4.9m

2.8m

4.2m 2.8m2.3m

single4.9m

Appendix 7.3 Garage dimensions

7.3.1 Domestic garages

Larger garages should be supplied to allow for cycles, refuse and other storage

7.3.2 Communal garagesOne-way ramps are only suitablefor low traffic volumes

Where thenumber of

parking baysexceeds

May require

10 Signal control40 Two-way ramp

Note: Dimensions are shown as desirable (and minimum)

garagefootwayroad

barri

er

1:10

3.0m (2.0m) transition

1:10 (1:7)

3.0m (2.0m) transition

1:101:201:20

5.0m (3.0m)

0.3m3.65m

0.6m

garage

foot

way

4.8m

traffic signalbarrier or

3.0m

3.0m (2.0m) transition5.0m (3.0m)

visibility splay1.0 X 1.0 m

0.3m

road

access queue Radius to outer kerb 12.0m(7.5m)�

18

4.8m

3.6m 6.0m

standard

2.4m

1.2m

4.8m

double disabledsingle disabled

1.2m

(non disabled)

TRAN

SFER

ZO

NE

TRAN

SFER

ZO

NE

Appendix 7.4 Parking bay dimensions and typical vehicle sizes

7.4.1 Car parking bay layout

7.4.2 Car parking bay sizes

7.4.3 Typical vehicle sizes

Vehicle(Vehicle used for typical size)

Length(metres)

Width(metres)

Turning radius- kerb to kerb

(metres)

Rear overhang(metres)

Medium Car(Volvo 440) 4.4 1.7 5.1 0.9

3.5 Ton Panel Van(large wheelbase Ford Transit) 5.4 2.0 5.9 1.5

7.5 Ton Box Van(Man 8.150) 8.0 2.1 7.4 2.6

Refuse Vehicle(Phoenix 23) 9.9 2.5 9.5 3.5

6.0m

4.5m6.0m3.5m

2.4m

1.8m

2.4m

4.8m

4.8m0.6m

19

Appendix 7.5 Plan of Strategic Routes

20

Appendix 7.6 Access and visibility

Footway crossover widths

Footway crossover purpose Maximum widthat back of footway (metres)

Individual garage or parking spaces 3.0Grouped parking places 4.8Large vehicle in housing 5.5Individual site 7.3Industrial premises 11.5

(Split in two by a 1.5m pedestrian refuge)No access should be within 15 metres of the nearest edge of a side road

21

Appendix 7.7 Tables and chairs

22

3.3m

4.3m

1.8m

schools andsubwayswheelchairWCC minimum

2.0m0.9m (0.76m)

lamp column etc.kerb line

(two-way use) bus stops

Appendix 7.8 Footways and cycleways

7.8.1 Footway widths

Note: dimensions shown are desirable (and minimum)

7.8.2 Cycleways

23

7.8.3 Sheffield cycle parking stand

Design and layouts are as recommended in the London Cycle Network Design Manual20

24

� 1800 mm Max. �

Appendix 7.9 Vertical clearances

7.9.1 Structures overhanging the highway

Dimensions are shown as desirable minimum (and absolute minimum)

For more information on shopfronts see Shopfronts, Blinds and Signs, A Guide to their Design26

7.9.2 Underground vaults

arcade

2.6m

5.3m

1.0m

foot

way

colu

mn

kerb

1.8m

(5.1m)

Minimum footwayCarriageway