Transport
Access and circulation
Kings Warren is designed to promote sustainable modes of transport by creating safe, direct and attractive routes for pedestrians and cyclists. Careful consideration has also been given to designing the more urban areas of the development so that the maximum number of residents are within easy walking distance of facilities. Additionally, bus routes will be positioned within easy walking distance of residential areas.
The flow, speed and circulation of traffic will be controlled, to create a safe residential environment within the ‘character zones’. In these zones, pedestrians and cyclists will have priority over motorists.
Safety is an integral part of the design of Kings Warren. All roadside paths and cycle ways will be designed to ensure safe and convenient use by disabled people. The development will provide efficient and safe access for motor vehicles, avoiding conflict with other road users and minimising congestion.
Highways Strategy
A circulatory loop road that will be a bus route is proposed to run north to south through Kings Warren linking onto Warren Road at each end. Within the ‘character zones’ of Kings Warren, loop roads will be used in preference to cul-de-sacs. Any cul-de-sacs will be kept short except where there are restrictions on points of access due to the constraints of the site. In these instances, footpath connections will be provided at the end of the cul-de-sac. Residential roads are designed to ensure that emergency service vehicles and other service vehicles - such as refuse and delivery vehicles - can obtain access to all properties.
In terms of the size of roads, the primary route will be 6.1 m wide, with a shared cycle/footway. Secondary roads will vary with a minimum width of 5.5 m. They will be wider in some places to accommodate on-street parking.
Traffic Calming
There are various traffic calming measures proposed for Kings Warren. The primary route will be designed to restrict average traffic speeds to 30 mph, whilst secondary vehicular routes will be designed to achieve average speeds of less than 20 mph.
The layout of buildings and roads has been designed to help ensure that traffic speeds are appropriately low. For example, surrounding roads with buildings or landscaping is a very effective way to control speeds as this makes the road seem narrower to the driver, therefore encouraging them to reduce their speed. On-street car parking and varying road widths will all contribute to low traffic speeds, and bends will have a minimum radius of 30 degrees. A similar or matching material will be used for the roadside verges and footways / cycleways. The roads will be defined by a combination of features such as low kerbs, bollards, drainage gullies and street trees.
Other, special traffic calming measures will be implemented where, for design reasons, long sections of straight or gently curved roads are unavoidable.
Pedestrians and cyclists
At Kings Warren, priority will be given to pedestrians and cyclists. There will be direct north to south and east to west footpaths and cycleways through the development, connecting with existing and proposed routes beyond the site’s boundary, as well as the Village Centre, sports grounds, business park and primary school.
So that the cycleways and footpaths are safe and attractive, they will be overlooked by houses.
Public Transport
The main route through the site will provide a circulatory bus route. The intention is that no home at Kings Warren will be located more than 400m from a bus stop.
Car Parking
Car parking will be provided for both residents and visitors in convenient and visually inconspicuous locations, but that will enable ‘passive surveillance’ from nearby houses and streets to limit opportunities for car related crime.
Car parking for residential areas will be provided in accordance with the standards delivered in the Suffolk Advisory Parking Standards. Car parking provisions will vary according to the various house types, density and character but will include: -
- off-street spaces and garages within individual plots
- grouped parking and areas of courtyards
- communal parking areas
- on-street spaces
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