Transport and accessibility is key to the lifeblood of the borough. Free movement for reasons of access to employment, education, retail, health and social and leisure are essential for the success of the borough.
It is recognised that as the borough grows pressures from natural background growth in traffic as well as that arising from new development will impact on our transport networks. In order to understand how these impacts will arise, what effect they will have, and to study and propose solutions a Transport Assessment is being prepared.
The Transport Assessment studies the patterns of movement around the borough by all modes of transport, by both residents and visitors, and, in particular, looks at how these affect the traffic flows along the road network; on local roads, main highways and on the M3 Motorway.
It is being prepared in conjunction with Hampshire County Council (as the Highways Authority) and the Highways Agency (who have responsibility for the strategic highway network including the M3 and A34).
The assessment examines:
- the borough profile in terms of all forms of transport as it is currently
- a demonstration of the likely effects of growth. A computer simulation model has been created to test the effects of a number of options for the shape of the borough into the future
- possible actions that may be required in order to accommodate changes to off set the effects of growth.
The initial section of the document is largely complete.
The first results of the computer modelling were completed in 2009 using the likely level of development anticipated at that time, and these are published here:
Basingstoke Transport Model LDF Core Strategy Scenario Testing (Nov 2009)
Adobe PDF document, 44.2 MB (this large file may take considerable time to download on slow connections)
A new series of modelling runs has been commissioned using a revised (lower) level of development, and with identified sites from the Core Strategy site selection process, published in September 2011. The results are awaited and will identify how and where any issues with the highway network may emerge, and further study will identify possible solutions. This will feed into the Core Strategy Infrastructure Delivery Plan.
Such solutions will include a mixture of physical infrastructure schemes, additional or modified transport services and some encouragement of changing travel patterns.
Please be aware that due to the size of the documents, when you open the links it may take some time before the document appears
