SITE NS1, NORTH STEVENAGE

PROJECT

We are delighted to have provided multi-faceted transport planning support for the planning approval of 900 dwellings on previously undeveloped land located off North Road, Stevenage, which received outline planning permission on 20th March 2025. The development was allocated in the North Hertfordshire Local Plan under Policy NS1 and included a primary school, community centre and mobility hub.

APPROACH

Extensive pre-application discussions were held with the highway authority and the local planning authority to agree both the scope of the assessment and the highway design principles, ensuring sustainable and active travel were front and centre of the development proposal. The development will benefit from a new bus service, which will loop through the development and into the neighbouring site, supported through new footways and cycleways that connect with established routes to link into the surrounding services and amenities in Stevenage.

Access for vehicles will be provided from North Road via a new traffic signal-controlled junction, with secondary access through the neighbouring residential development to the south of the site. Pedestrian and cycle integration to the neighbouring area will be provided via a number of connections around the perimeter of the site, ensuring sustainable and active travel are seen as viable alternatives to the use of private car travel.

Highway impact analysis was carried out using both Paramics Discovery micro-simulation and conventional Junction 11 and Linsig modelling to demonstrate that the development traffic had an acceptable impact on the local highway network.

OUTCOME.

Highways approval for the scheme was achieved following post-application discussions with the highway authority, Active Travel England and National Highways.