North Central Hertfordshire

Growth and Transport Plan

Prospectus

2019

Hitchin

Baldock

Royston

Stevenage

Letchworth

Garden City

What is a Growth and

Transport Plan and why is it

needed?

A Growth and Transport Plan (‘GTP’) has been developed by

Hertfordshire County Council with involvement from district/

borough councils and other stakeholders, to consider the

key problems and opportunities which currently exist or may

occur in the future on the transport network, and to identify

what types of interventions are needed to improve the

transport network.

A GTP is a supporting document to the County Council’s

Local Transport Plan 4 which defines the important policies

and priorities affecting transport across Hertfordshire. A

GTP identifies what interventions could be required to

deliver the County Council’s overarching policies and

priorities.

The North Central (NC) GTP is one of five GTPs being

developed for different parts of Hertfordshire. It covers the

towns of Stevenage, Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City,

Baldock and Royston, and key transport links between these

towns and to surrounding areas. The South Central (SC) GTP

has been developed along the NC GTP and covers the

southern end of the A1(A1(M) including Welwyn Garden City.

The two GTPs are therefore aligned and packages of

interventions will work together.

Important transport links in this area include the A1(M), A10,

A505, A507, A602 and B197 roads, the East Coast Main

Line and Cambridge railway lines, the National Cycle Route

12 and a range of local and longer distance bus and coach

services.

This area faces significant levels of proposed new housing

and employment development. This will create additional

travel pressure on different parts of the transport network

including extra cars on roads and people needing to access

jobs, schools, shops and key services on foot, by bike and

by public transport.

New homes and jobs are also proposed in surrounding areas

including Central Bedfordshire, South Cambridgeshire,

Luton (including the airport) and the rest of Hertfordshire.

To help ensure the transport network continues to work

safely and efficiently, the GTP identifies packages of

interventions. These interventions could address current

and future traffic congestion issues; provide more

opportunities and choice for people to walk, cycle or travel

by bus and train; and help to reduce the negative impacts

that transport can have on communities including noise and

poor air quality. Interventions can be small or large, and

could be introduced in the near future or the longer term

depending on whether or not there is local support for them;

how complex they are to develop; when they are needed,

and if enough funding is available.

1 | What is a Growth

and Transport Plan

and why is it

needed?

2 | What are the

objectives of the

GTP?

3 | How has the GTP

been developed?

4 | What does the

GTP propose?

5 | How you can

have a say on the

GTP & Next Steps

1 |

Hitchin

Stevenage

Baldock

Letchworth Garden

City

Royston

Knebworth

North Central GTP

indicative area of focus

Highway network

National Cycle Routes

Railways

What are the objectives of

the GTP?

Objectives are important as they can help to guide the

preparation of a Growth and Transport Plan and ensure

the types of interventions and decisions being made will

lead to the right outcomes.

Six objectives are identified for the NC GTP based on the

following themes (which are closely aligned with

Hertfordshire County Council’s LTP4):

The six objectives provide guidance on what the NC GTP

should aim to achieve.

These objectives seek to improve transport links between

and within towns and rural areas; reducing disruption to

improve journeys; making transport networks and services

more accessible for different people particularly those in

more remote areas; enhancing neighbourhood and town

centres to support vibrant communities and boosting the

economy; and preserve and enhance the local

environment and quality of life.

Planning for transport needs to move away from the

building of new roads as the main way of dealing with the

effects of planned new homes and jobs. Whilst more

targeted improvements to some roads will continue to be

required, this approach is no longer sustainable as it can

have long lasting, negative impacts on the environment

and local communities. Instead, there needs to be a focus

towards making journeys by sustainable modes of travel

like walking, cycling and public transport, easier and more

attractive to people. This shift in approach provides a

backdrop to LTP4 and to the proposals put forward in the

NC GTP.

1 | What is a Growth

and Transport Plan

and why is it

needed?

2 | What are the

objectives of the

GTP?

3 | How has the GTP

been developed?

4 | What does the

GTP propose?

5 | How you can

have a say on the

GTP

2 |

How was the GTP developed?

The process of developing the

NC GTP starts with a review of

evidence at Stage 1. This

evidence includes UK Census

data which shows where people

travel to and from for work and

by which mode of transport, e.g.

car or train; data on how the

transport network currently

operates, e.g. where traffic

delays and congestion can occur, and how it is predicted

to operate in the future; and information on where new

homes and jobs are planned.

At Stage 2, the evidence is

used to identify where

improvements are needed. The

NC GTP area is very large, and it

would therefore not be feasible

or affordable for the County

Council to address all known

growth and transport

challenges. The approach has

therefore been to prioritise movements between locations

(what are called Interactions) to help focus on where

improvements are most needed.

Stage 3 Option Development

involves using the evidence of

the current and future growth

and transport challenges

reviewed during Stage 1, and the

outcomes identified at Stage 2,

to identify interventions which

are grouped into Packages.

Following public

consultation

comments will

be reviewed and

updates will be

made where

appropriate to

the NC GTP

before it is

adopted (Stage

5).

1 | What is a Growth

and Transport Plan

and why is it

needed?

2 | What are the

objectives of the

GTP?

3 | How has the GTP

been developed?

4 | What does the

GTP propose?

5 | How you can

have your say on the

GTP

3 |

What does the GTP propose?

The proposals in the NC GTP are defined as

Interventions.

Interventions can vary a lot in scale and form. To help the

County Council plan for and prioritise interventions, it is

important that that smaller interventions are distinguished

from larger interventions as this could help the council

identify some ‘quick wins’, i.e. those interventions that can

be implemented and lead to benefits to transport users in

a shorter amount of time. It can also help the council

identify the more complex interventions that will require a

lot more detailed investigations.

In all cases more work and further consultation with local

communities and stakeholders will be needed before any

of the interventions are implemented.

Smaller, potentially simpler and cheaper interventions are

classed as Projects. Some Projects are strongly linked

with each other and it is recommended that they are

developed and implemented at the same time - these are

called Linked Project Groups. Larger, more complex

interventions are classed as Schemes.

All of the interventions have been grouped into Packages.

A Package represents a collection of Interventions, all of

which aim to address the same growth and transport

challenges. Fifteen Packages have been defined in the NC

GTP. These are summarised over the next few pages, and

are grouped by town, starting in Stevenage and ending in

Royston.

More detailed information is contained in the NC GTP

Interventions Paper.

1 | What is a Growth

and Transport Plan

and why is it

needed?

2 | What are the

objectives of the

GTP?

3 | How has the GTP

been developed?

4 | What does the

GTP propose?

5 | How you can

have a say on the

GTP

4 |

Package Name

Stevenage PK1 Gunnels Wood and Town Centre

PK2 North and West Stevenage

PK3 East and South East Stevenage

Stevenage

connections

to other

towns

PK4 Stevenage to Welwyn Garden City

PK5 Stevenage to Hitchin, Luton and Luton Airport

PK6 Stevenage to Letchworth Garden City

Hitchin PK7 Hitchin Centre including Rail Station

PK8 North Hitchin and Industrial Estate

PK9 West Hitchin

Hitchin

connections

to other

towns

PK10 Hitchin to Letchworth Garden City / Baldock

PK11 Letchworth Centre and Industrial Estate

Letchworth

Garden City PK12 North Letchworth Garden City

Baldock PK13 Baldock connectivity, rail station and

development

Connections

to Central

Bedfordshire

towns

PK14 Shefford, Arlesey and Stotfold to Hitchin and

Letchworth Garden City

Royston PK15 Royston

Types of

interventions

proposed in

the NC GTP

Packages 1-3

PK01

Gunnels Wood and

Town Centre

PK02

North and West

Stevenage

PK03

• Cycle routes connecting new development in North Stevenage to the town centre

and Gunnels Wood employment area via cycleway network

• Improvements to Stevenage rail station

• North-South high quality bus corridors

To facilitate access by sustainable modes to Gunnels

Wood Road industrial estate and the town centre.

To facilitate access by sustainable modes between

new developments in North and West Stevenage, and

the town centre and business parks.

• Cycle routes connecting new development in North Stevenage to the town centre

via cycleway network

• Improvements to bus services between new development sites and the town cen-

tre

East and South East

Stevenage

To facilitate access by sustainable modes between

East and Southeast Stevenage, and the town centre

and business parks.

• Cycle routes connecting new development in East and Southeast Stevenage to the

town centre via cycleway network

Stevenage

£31m-£124m 2-10 years

£10m-£20m 2-5 years

£5m-£11m 2-5 years

New bus interchange

closer to the railway

station

A town-wide cycle

hire scheme

Stevenage Railway Station

Improvement including an

extra platform to

accommodate extra train

services

Lytton Way

(adjacent to the

railway station

closed to through

traffic (to provide

better links for

pedestrians,

cyclists and buses

Stevenage North-South

Bus Corridor which will

give priority to buses in

busy traffic

A new cycle hub at Stevenage

Rail Station for safe, secure

cycle parking and repairs

Better walking and cycling

links to the town centre

New and improved bus services and cycle

routes between planned housing

developments, the town centre and

Gunnels Wood employment area

Stevenage

B1037

J7

J8

Town

Centre Gunnels Wood

Packages 4-6

PK04

Stevenage to Welwyn

Garden City

PK05

Stevenage to Hitchin,

Luton and Luton Airport

PK06

• Seeking the upgrade of the 300/301 bus service;

• Journey time reliability with the reduction of on street parking;

• Development of a cycling route along the B197 corridor;

• New sustainable connections from planned housing development to Knebworth

station.

To improve reliability and enable faster journey times

for public transport along the B197 from Welwyn to

Stevenage.

To develop a multimodal corridor between Stevenage,

Hitchin and Luton Airport that supports public

transport and cycling through improvement of existing

infrastructure.

• Development of the Stevenage-Hitchin-Luton Airport bus corridor considering

bus priority and capacity improvements to key junctions.

• Improved pedestrian accessibility between Stevenage and Hitchin with the

creation of inter-urban cycleway.

Stevenage to

Letchworth Garden City

To form a sustainable corridor between Stevenage and

Letchworth Garden City by upgrading existing cycling

infrastructure, improving the public realm in villages on

B197 as well as ensuring bus priority.

• Reconfigure B197/A505 junction to reduce bus journey times.

• Upgrade current National Cycle Route 12 between Letchworth Garden City and

Stevenage.

Stevenage connections to other towns

£6m-£13m 2-5 years

£17m-£65m 2-10 years

£2.5m-£6m 2-5 years

Improvements at

the A602/B656

Hitchin Hill

Roundabout to

reduce traffic

delays

Measures to improve journey time reliability

through Knebworth London Road/High Street

Introduce traffic

signals at the

Little Wymondley

T-junction on the

A602 between

Hitchin and

Stevenage with

bus priority

New walking and cycling connections to

housing development in Knebworth

Improved Stevenage to

Welwyn Garden City cycle

route

Improved Stevenage-Luton/Luton

Airport Bus Services New Stevenage to

Hitchin Cycle Route

A505/Pirton Road/

Upper Tilehouse Street

junction improvement

Improvements to A1(M) J8 to reduce

delays and include priority for buses

Improved

Letchworth Garden

City to Stevenage

cycle route

Introduce traffic signals at the B197/A505 junction

including a right-turn facility exclusively for buses

Stevenage

Luton

Hitchin

Letchworth

Garden City

Welwyn

Garden City

Knebworth

B197 London Road cycle

enhancements

Packages 7-9

PK07

Hitchin Centre

Including Rail Station

PK08

North Hitchin and

Industrial Estate

PK09

• Development and promotion of a bus interchange with improved information in

Hitchin town centre, with support for existing services.

• New eastern entrance to the rail station to facilitate multimodal trips.

• Improved pedestrian and cyclist accessibility to Hitchin Station including a new

pedestrian priority corridor along the B656, combined with improved facilities at

Hitchin Station.

• Parking restrictions around Hitchin station to encourage active transport.

To encourage use of public transport through support

for services and creation of a safe and attractive

corridor in which to take advantage of the services

within Hitchin Centre and Rail Station.

To build connections to the development site H1 and

industrial estate with public transport and increased

links to active transport infrastructure.

• New and improved active infrastructure links from the industrial estate and new

development to the rail station.

• Bus service to new development.

West Hitchin

To unlock the potential for active trips with high quality

improvements to pedestrian and cycling infrastructure

from Hitchin Westmill and Bearton areas to the town

centre.

• High quality access to the new development.

• New cycle infrastructure to link Westmill and Bearton areas to the town centre.

Hitchin

£1.3m-£4.5m 2-10 years

£1.6m-£4.5m 2-10 years

£2.5m-£6m 2-5 years

New North Hitchin

cycle route

Management of on-street parking

around the Railway Station

B656 Walsworth Road

Pedestrian Priority

Corridor

New walking, cycling and

bus links to planned housing

developments north and

west of Hitchin

Extra Bedford

Road Pedestrian

Crossings

Bus service

improvements to

Hitchin Station

Improved cycle parking

facilities at Hitchin Station

B655 A new ‘on-street’

bus interchange in

Hitchin town centre A505

A505

Town

Centre

New Eastern

Entrance to the

Railway Station

Industrial Estate pedestrian

and cycle access

Hitchin

Packages 10-13

PK10

Hitchin-Connections to

other towns

PK11

Letchworth Centre and

Industrial Estate

PK12

• Creation of a continuous cycle network along A505 with cycle priority at junctions.

• Create a cycle hub at Hitchin rail station with improved facilities and increased cycle

parking.

To enhance cycling infrastructure between Hitchin,

Letchworth Garden City and Baldock; and make it a safe

and attractive option for sustainable trips.

To increase active transport provision between the

centre of Letchworth Garden City and the Industrial

Estate by providing a signposted and connected active

transport network.

• A cycle route which connects the main employment areas to Baldock and the rail

station and links to a signed network.

• Linking the current network to new routes combined with town centre cycle

parking to ensure access to key areas.

North Letchworth

Garden City

To provide improved sustainable connections by

supporting a more frequent bus connection as well as a

cycling facility between north Letchworth Garden City

and the town centre.

• Sustainable access to the development, with us, cycle and pedestrian options.

• Ensuring there are links between northern Letchworth Garden City and town centre by

bike, as well as providing bike parking at the

station.

Hitchin-Letchworth-Baldock

PK13

Baldock Connectivity

To make Baldock a safe, convenient and attractive

place to make sustainable transport trips through

improvements to cycling and walking infrastructure

and facilities as well as bus journeys.

• Provide an improved link to Clothall Common from the rail station with cycle parking at

the station.

• Create active transport links between new development at Land North and Baldock

and Land South of Clothall Common to the sustainable spine.

• Support current bus routes’ level of service.

£2.5m-£5.5m 2-10 years

£2m-£4m 2-10 years

£2m-£4m 2-5 years

£3m-£6.5m 2-5 years

Improved Letchworth Town

Centre and Rail Station Cycle

Parking

New Hitchin railway station to

Town Centre Cycle Route

Baldock Rail

Station Cycle

Parking

improvements

Improved cycle route

signage to Letchworth

Garden City Railway Station

Better Pedestrian

Crossings on the A505

A505 Cycle Route and Junction

Improvements to provide

priority for cyclists

Hitchin Rail Station

Cycle Hub for safe

and secure parking

and repairs

Bus links between new

housing development north

of Letchworth Garden City,

the station and town centre

Improved and new cycle routes

across North Letchworth Garden

City

New bus links to

new housing

development in

Baldock

New link roads providing access to

development around Baldock and helping

to reduce through-traffic in the town

Hitchin

Letchworth

Garden City

Baldock

J8

J9

J10

Baldock to

Letchworth Garden

City cycle route

PK14 Shefford, Arlesey &

Stotfold to Hitchin &

Letchworth Garden City

• Encouragement of Central Beds to promote Arlesey rail station for trips to Stevenage

and Hitchin.

• Upgrade of existing active infrastructure to promote a modal shift from Henlow Camp

and Stotfold.

To encourage a modal shift in trips from Central

Bedfordshire to Hertfordshire through support for

development trips to use sustainable modes as well as

creation of inter-urban cycling and walking routes.

Central Beds Connections

Cycle Routes to Henlow

Camp and Stotfold

Sustainable access to

Hitchin, Letchworth Garden

City and Stevenage from

the A507 corridor (Central

Bedfordshire)

Shefford

Arlesey

Hitchin

Letchworth

Garden City

Stotfold

Package 14

£1.5m-£3.5m Linked to

development

PK15

Royston

• Cycling connections across the A505 to the Melbourn Greenway.

• Development of cycling network along radial routes combined with cycle parking at

the station.

• Improved connectivity to the industrial estate.

• Improved facilities and information at Royston bus station.

To transform Royston into a town that facilitates safe,

attractive and convenient journeys by active and

sustainable transport modes.

Royston

Melbourn Greenway

connection to Royston

Improved Cycle

Parking at

Royston station

Creation of a joined

up cycling network

across Royston

Royston Bus

Interchange

Improvement

Improved connections

between the towns

centre and industrial

estates

Royston

Package 15

£6m-£14m 2-5 years

How you can have a say on the

GTP

This draft North Central Growth and Transport Plan

was published on 6th January 2020.

The public consultation is open until 30th March

2020.

The NC GTP documents are available at

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-

council/consultations

We are interested in hearing your views on the NC

GTP and would encourage feedback via our online

survey.

Alternatively views can be submitted via:

A1GTP@hertfordshire.gov.uk

or

North Central Growth and Transport Plan,

Postal Point CHN115, Hertfordshire County

Council, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13

8DN

Responses are welcomed from individuals or on

behalf of organisations. If you have any queries on this

consultation, or require any of the materials in an

alternative format or language, please contact the

Growth and Transport Plan Team (Email:

A1GTP@hertfordshire.gov.uk).

Next Steps

The next steps will be to take on board comments

received during this public consultation and make any

necessary amendments to the NC GTP. The aim then is to

adopt the GTP in 2020. The proposed interventions will

then be prioritised and investigated in more detail. There

will be further discussions with key stakeholders and local

communities before any of the interventions are

introduced on the transport network, and importantly, there

will need to be sufficient funding in place.

1 | What is a Growth

and Transport Plan

and why is it

needed?

2 | What are the

objectives of the

GTP?

3 | How has the GTP

been developed?

4 | What does the

GTP propose?

5 | How you can

have a say on the

GTP

5 |