Sustainable Movement Strategy · Sustainable Movement Strategy APRIL 2019 6 This document sets out the transport vision and strategy for the Gilston Park Estate, which is located

Sustainable Movement Strategy

Connecting people and places

APRIL 2019

Garden City Principle Relevant Gilston Park Estate StrategyStrong vision, leadership and community engagement Placemaking Strategy

Governance Strategy

Land value capture to deliver the social and physical infrastructure for the benefit of the community

Governance StrategyEducation and Learning Strategy

Long-term community ownership of land and stewardship of assets

Governance Strategy

Mixed-tenure homes and housing types including those that are genuinely affordable

Housing StrategyPlacemaking Strategy

A wide range of local jobs within easy commuting distance of homes

Inclusive Growth StrategyPlacemaking StrategySustainable Movement Strategy

Beautifully and imaginatively designed homes with access to open space, combining the best of town and country to create healthy communities, and including opportunities to grow food

Placemaking StrategyHealth and Wellbeing StrategyHousing StrategyNatural and Historic Landscape Strategy

Development that enhances the natural environment, providing a comprehensive green infrastructure network and net biodiversity gains, and that uses energy-positive technology to ensure climate resilience

Natural and Historic Landscape StrategySustainability StrategyPlacemaking Strategy

Strong cultural, recreational and shopping facilities in walkable, vibrant, sociable communities

Placemaking StrategySustainable Movement Strategy

Integrated and accessible sustainable transport systems, with walking, cycling and public transport designed to be the most attractive forms of local transport for new residents to travel within the Gilston Area and to key local destinations

Sustainable Movement StrategyPlacemaking StrategySustainability StrategyGovernance Strategy

The proposals for Gilston Park Estate respond to the requirements of Policy GA1 of the East Herts District Plan and specifically the Garden City principles identified at criteria III of the policy. The table below identifies which of the ‘strategies’ submitted in support of the application address the requirements of each Garden City principle.

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Sustainable movement commitments

Places for People commits to:

1. Provide high quality walking and cycling as well as bus routes within the site;

2. Provide the Central Stort Crossing that forms part of the Sustainable Transport Corridor as soon as practicable within the build out of the development;

3. Provide a segregated walking and cycling route from Village 1 to Burnt Mill Roundabout including a bridge over the A414;

4. Provide the Eastern Stort Crossing including a segregated walking and cycling route at the appropriate time during the build out of the development;

5. ClosePyeCornertothroughtrafficoncetheeasternStortCrossingisopentotraffic;

6. Provide funding for a northern access to Harlow Town station to allow the feasibility design and, if proven feasible, the implementation of the scheme and associated walking and cycling improvements to Burnt Mill Lane;

7. To provide pump priming for bus services during the early stages of the scheme build out with the aim of providing an ultimate frequency of a bus every 10 minutes between the development, the rail station and the town centre;

8. ToappointaTravelPlanCo-ordinatorbeforefirstoccupationofthedevelopmentandtofullyfundimplementation of the Travel Plan;

9. To monitor the effectiveness of the Travel Plan and provide additional funding for sustainable travel plan measures if the Garden Town target of 60% of travel by sustainable modes is not achieved;

10. To liaise with local communities over the impact of the proposals and to provide an Unforeseen Impact fund toaddressanyissuesidentified.

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Contents

1. Introduction 06

2. Vision 07

3. Policy and guidance 08

4. The objectives 11

5. Approach 12

6. Masterplan and overall transport provision 15

7. Walking and cycling strategy 16

8. Public transport strategy 19

9. Co-ordinated journeys 22

10. Travel plan and health and wellbeing 23

Sustainable Movement Strategy APRIL 2019

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This document sets out the transport vision and strategy for the Gilston Park Estate, which is located in East Hertfordshire, to the north of Harlow.

The Gilston Area is a proposed mixed-use development providing up to 10,000 new homes to the north of Harlow. It is being promoted by Places for People and Briggens Estate 1 Limited Site. Places for People will submit one application for 8,500 units (referred to as Gilston Park Estate) whilst Briggens Estate 1 Limited Site will submit another application for 1,500 units (referred to as Briggens Estate 1 Limited Site).

This strategy focusses on the Gilston Park Estate; some of the strategies and approach are equally applicable to the Gilston Area as a whole

Gilston Park Estate is coming forward at a time of rapid change in many aspects of peoples lives. Working patterns are becoming more flexible, the retail environment is adapting to the growth of on-line shopping and technology is providing many new opportunities. In the transport field, electric and automated vehicles are developing and technology is allowing people to better plan and share journeys. It is no longer the norm for a teenager to automatically want to own a car and attitudes to the environment, health and wellbeing are changing.

Gilston Park Estate, and this Sustainable Movement Strategy will respond to these changes over approximately the next 20 years. By planning transport provision as an integral part of the scheme, the opportunities presented will be maximised. In particular this Sustainable Movement Strategy builds on the emerging Digital Strategy and Vision

and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy as well as being an important element of the place making strategy creating streets and places where people wish to spend time.

It is important to see the proposals at Gilston Park Estate within the context of the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town. The Garden Town incorporates Harlow as well as the Gilston Area and therefore it is important for developers and stakeholders to work together to develop transport initiatives that will assist existing as well as new residents. Whilst the developers of the Gilston Area can have a strong influence on proposals within and adjacent to their landownerships there are other town wide measures where the local authorities and County Councils will need to take the lead if a sustainable Garden Town is to be developed. This includes measures such as parking control, bus priority measures and wider infrastructure.

Furthermore, contributions will be required from developments throughout the Garden Town towards joint funding of strategic infrastructure.

In developing the Sustainable Movement Strategy, we have actively engaged with a number of stakeholders, including:• Essex County Council;• Hertfordshire County Council;• Harlow District Council;• East Herts District Council;• Highways England;• Hertfordshire LEP;• Arriva (local bus operator);• Abellio (Train Operating Co);• Network Rail.

1 Introduction

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The transport vision for Gilston Park Estate is:

“To create a development where people have the opportunity to undertake many day-to-day activities within the site and have the choice of sustainable transport modes for travel within and outside the site.

To provide transport infrastructure and service enhancements that bring forward improvements that benefit local communities in East Hertfordshire and Harlow.

To introduce travel planning that acts as a catalyst to shape the habits of the local community.”

The Concept Framework sets out 13 Development Objectives for the area. In relation to transport the objectives are as follows. Further details are provided in the Concept Framework and are consistent with the Garden Town principles.

• Well Connected to, but Distinctive from, Harlow;

• Promoting Healthy Communities;

• Promoting Sustainable Travel;

• Digital Connectivity Opportunities;

• Creating Walkable Neighbourhoods;

• Ensuring the Phased Delivery of Necessary Infrastructure to Meet the Needs Arising from Development.

2 Vision


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The Sustainable Movement Strategy has been developed within the context of adopted and emerging national and local policy guidance.

District planUnderpinning the proposals at Gilston Park Estate is the East Herts District Plan (EHDC) which allocates the Gilston Area for the development of up to 10,000 homes. Policy GA1 includes provision for sustainable transport as follows:

“(l) sustainable transport measures which encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport including:• the provision of cycleways and footways that

provide links throughout the site and into Harlow;

• enhancement of existing bridleways and footpaths;

• enhanced passenger transport services including creation of a sustainable transport route through the site which will link into a sustainable transport corridor which links the Gilston Area to the urban area of Harlow;

• the setting of objectives and targets for the use of sustainable modes.”

Local Transport Plan 4 Hertfordshire’s Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP 4) sets the objectives and strategy in planning for growth within the County.

Policy 1: Transport User Hierarchy states the following: “To support the creation of built environments that encourage greater and safer use of sustainable transport modes, the county council will in the design of any scheme and development of any Sustainable Movement Strategy consider in the following order:

• Opportunities to reduce travel demand and the need to travel

• Vulnerable road user needs (such as pedestrians and cyclists)

• Passenger transport user needs

• Powered two-wheeler (mopeds and motorbikes) user needs

• Other motor vehicle user needs

3 Policy and guidance

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Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Vision The Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Vision sets out the principles which will inform the growth and management of the overall garden town. This document forms the basis for a family of documents including the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy detailed below.

The document recognises that there is an opportunity to create a garden town which will be adaptable, healthy, sustainable and innovative.

Four themes have been identified to guide the development and growth of the HGGT each made up of a number of indicators. The themes are:• Economy and Regeneration;

• Placemaking and Homes;

• Landscape and Green Infrastructure;

• Sustainable Movement.

In terms of sustainable movement, the document sets out four overarching indicators which will inform the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town. These are: • Revitalising the walking and cycling network;

• The value of place: changing the character of roads to streets;

• Integrated transport: a viable and preferred alternative to cars to achieve a modal shift;

• Anticipating change and future proofing infrastructure.

Draft Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy The Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy sets out how the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town will achieve the challenge of future travel demand linked to planned growth by identifying measures to reduce travel yet still identifying peoples need to travel. The strategy states that:

“50% of all journeys across Harlow will be made by active and sustainable modes and this target rises to 60% of all journeys within the new communities”

The transport strategies that the Garden Town proposes and how the Gilston Park Estate assists in delivering those strategies are summarised in Appendix A. Figure 1 overleaf also gives a visual representation of the transport links that the wider Garden Town will offer.


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Figure 1: Sustainable and Active Travel Network in around the Garden Town (adapted from HGGT Transport Strategy)

→ Every house within a 10 minute walk of public transport.

→ Walk-friendly village layouts.

→ Pro-active design for cycling: dedicated paths, shared streets, safe crossings.

→ Embrace digital opportunities for smarter traffic management and choices.

→ Help homeworking with superfast broadband, meeting places and home design.

→ Connected, rural, active living.

Eastwick Gilston area Gilston Village Roydon Harlow Town Harlow Mill Little Parndon Edinburgh Way Old Harlow PHE/Pinnacles 4th Avenue Town Centre The Stow Mark Hall

Harlow East Broxbourne Water Lane 3rd Avenue 2nd Avenue Clock House Science Park Newhall Staple Tye Bush Fair Church Langley Sumners Latton Priory Latton Bush

To Hertford

To the Upper Lee To Bishops StortfordTo Saw

bridge

worth

To London

To Stansted and Cambridge

To Epping

To Epping

1

4 5 6

2 3

7

10 11 12 13 14

1716

26 28

18

23 24 25

19 20 21

8 9

22

15

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STC - Bus Rapid Transit STC - Possible future extension Garden Town development areas Town Centre investment area Commercial hubs Cycle Super Greenway Cycle/BRT micro hub Rail line Crossrail 2 Preferred CR2 extent Bus routes New road bridge New cycle/pedestrian bridge

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 11

G E T T I N G A R O U N DGilston Park Estate

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The overarching objective of the Sustainable Movement Strategy is to achieve the Garden Town target of 60% of all journeys within the new Garden Communities being undertake by sustainable modes.

This will be achieved in the following way:

The mix of uses within the Gilston Park Estate, excellent walking and cycling provision to key destinations, high frequency bus services (with bus priority) and proximity to the rail station will all assist in achieving this target.

These measures will be underpinned by active travel managements through the long-term involvement of Places for People.

It is also important to take a broader view on modal shift and recognise that existing communities as well as the new residents of Gilston Park Estate will need to evolve their travel choices if the overall Harlow and Gilston Garden Town is to achieve its objectives. Gilston Park Estate will make a significant contribution to this by provision of infrastructure (e.g. the Central Stort Crossing Development and the Eastern Stort Crossing Development), provision of improved bus services and the potential for the Site Wide Travel Plan to be expanded to include local communities. However, other Garden Town initiatives, such as the completion of the Sustainable Transport Network will also need to come forward if the overall objectives are to be achieved.

4 The objectives


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An approach has been taken that focusses on the hierarchy of movement within Gilston Park Estate specifically. The adopted hierarchy is as follows, with further detail on the elements provided later in this document.

1. Reducing the need to travel: With a mixed-use development there are significant opportunities for people to undertake many of their day to day activities within Gilston Park Estate, thus reducing external trips. This includes the great majority of primary and secondary education trips and some trips to local retail, leisure, employment and community uses. It is expected that between 30% and 50% of trips can be contained within the Village Development during peak periods. A further way of reducing the need to travel is through home working and encouragement will be given to this through high quality digital connections and the opportunity for co-working hubs.

2. Walking and Cycling: Walking and cycling will be at the top of the transport hierarchy and in the design of infrastructure will be given emphasis over other modes. This will be through pro-active design (dedicated footways, cycle routes, safe crossings, shared streets) as well as education and encouragement.

3. Public Transport: For longer journeys public transport should be the next favoured option. Gilston Park Estate has an advantage of being located close to Harlow Town station, so that residents can use rail services extensively, accessed through walking, cycling or bus.

In addition, a comprehensive bus service will be

provided that has priority over general car traffic through good design. Additionally, opportunities for demand-responsive services will be introduced.

4. Car Sharing and Pooling: For those who have a need to use a car there will be opportunities to share journeys through web and App based ride sharing. Car pools and car clubs will also be provided.

5. Private Cars: Use of the private car will be at the bottom of the hierarchy. However, it must be remembered that people do need to use cars for daily business, often because of the location travelled to, the time of travel or because of the need for linked trips.

5 Approach

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Therefore, a balanced approach needs to be taken that encourages a switch to sustainable modes whilst recognising the role of the car. It is also noteworthy that over the course of the development of Gilston Park Estate, car technology will change significantly with the banning of new petrol and diesel car and van sales by 2040 along with the introduction of automated vehicles reducing harmful emissions.

Implementation The implementation of this hierarchical approach will be undertaken using the following tools:

Masterplan and good designGilston Park Estate will be designed to encourage containment and will promote walking, cycling and public transport use above single occupancy use of the private car.

Strong encouragementA robust Site Wide Travel Plan will be introduced that provides encouragement and incentives for using sustainable modes.

Mobility-as-a-ServiceMobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) is at the forefront of change, and is a concept of combining services from public and private transport providers in one place which allows users to create and manage trips, which they can then pay for from a single account, typically a smartphone App.

Long term managementIt is a particular benefit of Gilston Park Estate, that, due to the proposed governance, Places for People will maintain a long-term interest in the Development and be able to provide the vision, drive, leadership and co-ordination to achieve successful travel planning and effective changes in people’s travel habits. The governance structure includes establishment of a long-term management company that would manage many aspects of Gilston Park Estate including transport.


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A Transport Review Group (TRG) will be established that will oversee the long-term management of transport within Gilston Park Estate and the development of new initiatives. It will also monitor the success of the Site Wide Travel Plan and require changes where necessary. Additional funding will be available if targets are not being met as well as to deal with unforeseen circumstances.

Future proofingTransport provision is changing at a rapid pace with the introduction of measures such as Automated Vehicles, Demand Responsive Bus Services and Information Technology. As Gilston Park Estate is developed out over approximately the next 20 years it will seek to adapt to these changes and future proof designs to allow for them.

Existing communitiesThis Sustainable Movement Strategy recognises and takes into account existing local communities and seeks to provide opportunities for them to move towards more sustainable ways of travelling. This is through service enhancements, physical links and Site Wide Travel Plan measures.

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The Sustainable Movement Strategy encompasses provision “on site” i.e. within the Gilston Park Estate illustrative Masterplan and “off-site” i.e. within the ocal area.

On-site: the illustrative masterplanThe transport provision will help in the creation of high-quality places and spaces within the illustrative Masterplan. This is in terms of transport connections (for example creating streets where people wish to walk and squares where pedestrians dominate) and connectivity (where people are able to live within a walkable neighbourhood).

Within the site there will be:• Walkable neighbourhoods which include local

facilities and a primary school;

• Primary and secondary schools that can serve the great majority of resident’s education needs;

• • Retail, leisure, employment and community uses allowing many day to day activities to be undertaken within the Gilston Park Estate;

• A network of footways, cycleways and avenues to create a sense of place.

Off site: external connectivityAppendix B: Plan 1 shows the overall provision of primary infrastructure within and external to the site. The following sections go on to consider each mode in turn. However, the strategy also considers how modes co-ordinate and integrate so that the journey is seen as a whole.

6 Masterplan and overall transportprovision


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7 Walking and cycling strategy

Walking and cycling are the most sustainable modes of transport and are particularly suited to shorter journeys within urban environments.

The aim of the strategy is to create pedestrian and cycle linkages within Gilston Park Estate and to key external origins/destinations.

Links within Gilston Park Estate Within Gilston Park Estate a range of routes will be provided. These will include:• Segregated cycle and pedestrian routes adjacent

to roads;

• On-street cycle routes on more lightly trafficked roads;

• Shared surfaces; and

• Segregated cycle and pedestrian routes not adjacent to roads.

There will be two styles of route. First, those that are hard surfaced and lit and which will, for the most part, be next to traffic routes. These routes will generally be the ones used for commuting. Secondly, there will be less formal leisure routes that may vary from simple unsurfaced footpaths to sensitively surfaced routes suitable for both cyclists and pedestrians. These routes link to existing leisure routes in the area, such as the Stort Valley navigation and Harcamlow Way, as well as numerous designated footpaths close to the site. They will also provide links to local villages.

Figure 2: Indicative Cross-Section Road Layout

External Links Outside Gilston Park EstateThe aim of the external links is to provide good quality connections to key local origins/destinations and in particular:

• Harlow Town Centre

• Harlow Town rail station

• Pinnacles employment area

• Temple Fields employment area

• Enterprise Zone

• Princess Alexandra Hospital

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As shown on Appendix B: Plan 1 there are four key routes that link from Gilston Park Estate to these key destinations. These are described below.

Appendix B: Plans 2 to 5 at the end of this document show the walking and cycling routes that would be undertaken from four of the villages by way of illustration. Also given are the travel distances and times by walking and cycling.

Table 1 below shows approximate cycling times to key origins/destinations from Village 1 and Village 4..

Table 1: Cycle Journey Times (Minutes)

Route 1: Proposed Central Stort CrossingAs part of the Sustainable Transport Corridor between Gilston and Harlow Town Centre, it is proposed to provide a high-quality segregated pedestrian/cycle link. This will be provided on the east side of the crossing in order to tie in with access to the station and the existing provision on the east side of Fifth Avenue. The aim is to provide a 5m wide segregated route although there may be some local minor narrowing due to physical constraints. The route will include a new pedestrian/cycle bridge over the A414 thus providing for seamless connectivity between Gilston Park Estate and Harlow.

In addition, the footway/cycleway connects to Burnt Mill Lane which will provide access to the proposed northern access to Harlow Town station. It is also proposed to improve the cycle route between Burnt Mill roundabout and the station (Station Approach).

Route 2: Proposed Eastern Stort CrossingThe Eastern Stort Crossing Development will link Gilston Park Estate to the existing A414 at River Way via a new crossing of the River Stort and a new foot/cycle bridge over the railway adjacent to the existing bridge on River Way.

A 5m wide segregated footway/cycleway will be provided along the entire length of the Eastern Stort Crossing Development. The crossing will link into existing pedestrian and cycle routes on Edinburgh Way.

This route will provide a link between Gilston Park Estate and the eastern part of Harlow including the Templefields employment area and the Enterprise Zone. The link will also assist the existing communities of Terlings Park and Gilston by providing better access to these job opportunities.

The design of the Eastern Stort Crossing Development maintains a segregated footpath link between the existing communities of Terlings Park and Gilston as well as providing a new at grade crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.

Route 3: Burnt Mill LaneBurnt Mill Lane is now closed to through traffic and therefore provides good opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to link from Gilston Park Estate to the Central Stort Crossing Development and on into Harlow. This will also provide access to the proposed northern access to Harlow Town station.

Harlow Town Station

Town Centre

Enterprise Zone

V1 4 8 13

V2 15 19 15


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It is proposed to introduce enhancements to the routes for pedestrians and cyclists as well as a potential controlled crossing point on Eastwick Road.

The link will improve connectivity for existing residents of Gilston and Terlings Park as well as new residents of Gilston Park Estate.

Route 4: Parndon MillThis route provides a link between Gilston Park Estate (close to the village of Eastwick) and the A1169 Elizabeth Way via PROW 185 and Parndon Mill Lane for pedestrians. A new crossing of the A414 will be provided to improve connectivity for existing residents (for example Eastwick Village and Hunsdon) and residents of Gilston Park Estate. The exact route is still under review.

The route provides direct access onto the A1169 Elizabeth Way where onwards eastbound and westbound connectivity is provided via a shared footway/cycleway to the north of the carriageway.

Route 5: Briggens Estate 1 Limited Site Link Additional routes are also being investigated further to the west in association with the development of Briggens Estate 1 Limited Site.

Other local links Links will also be provided to the local communities in the area and in particular: Hunsdon, Eastwick, Gilston and Terlings Park via existing and enhanced footways and bridleways.

Cycle hireIt is proposed to introduce a cycle hire scheme for Gilston Park Estate and the wider Garden Town. Dockless cycle hire schemes are now available that increase the flexibility whilst reducing the cost of such schemes. Discussions will be held with Harlow District Council and Essex County Council on use of this scheme within the urban area of Harlow. Access to the cycle scheme could be provided through a Gilston Park Estate smartcard that also provides access to other transport services. The scheme could include electric bikes if appropriate.

Encouragement Other initiatives to encourage walking and cycling are included in the Site Wide Travel Plan.

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Bus strategyA development of up to 8,500 residential units at Gilston Park Estate provides the critical mass of development that is needed to initiate the delivery of an extensive enhancement to existing bus services. The patronage generated by the Village Development will enhance the viability and quality of existing services in East Hertfordshire and Harlow thus bringing benefits to the existing local communities. Through working in partnership with the highway authorities and local bus operators and by engaging with the local communities, Gilston Park Estate can facilitate attractive and viable bus routes.

Bus services will be delivered in a phased manner responding to increased demand. However, Places for People will ensure that an appropriate level of service is provided early in the life of the development in order to encourage establishment of sustainable habits. Demand responsive services will beexplored, e.g. Arriva Click.

A number of the bus services in Harlow currently terminate at the rail station or town centre bus station. This is convenient since it allows these services to be extended into Gilston Park Estate with no loss of service to existing customers.

The details of the services to be provided are yet to be confirmed since it is not feasible to fix services some years ahead of when they will be provided. However, an illustration of potential services, as derived from discussions with Arriva, is shown at Appendix B: Plan 6 with direct services from Gilston Park Estate to the following areas being provided:• Hertford;

• Harlow Town Rail Station;

• Harlow Town Centre (bus station); and

• Templefields.

Arriva have proposed a frequency of one bus every circa 7 to 8 minutes at full build out.

In addition, the aim will be, where feasible, to improve connections to local villages including Hunsdon, Eastwick and Gilston/Terlings Park.

Bus stops will be provided throughout Gilston Park Estate with the aim that the great majority of houses will be within a 400m distance of a stop. Within the site bus priority will be considered at key locations in order to provide bus journey times that are quicker than general traffic.

8 Public transport strategy


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Rapid bus corridor The Sustainable Transport Corridor between Gilston Park Estate and Harlow will provide a high-quality route for buses with segregation from and priority over general traffic.

On the Central Stort Crossing Development the additional lanes being provided will be dedicated to buses and advance stop lines will be introduced so that buses have priority over general traffic.

Burnt Mill roundabout will be signalised to include bus priority and buses will then feed into the existing bus lanes on Fifth Avenue. Such lanes already exist northbound and ECC are proposing to introduce southbound lanes and improved route continuity as part of the Sustainable Transport Corridor.

Elsewhere the Harlow the Garden Town Strategy includes additional east/west sustainable transport corridors.

Based on discussions undertaken to date, it is reasonable to expect that bus companies will respond to the above initiatives and increase the quality of buses and services accordingly. This is equivalent to a Quality Bus Initiative where the authorities/developer provide the enhancements to infrastructure and the bus companies provide the improvements to buses/services.

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Rail Strategy Harlow Town Station is operated by Abellio Greater Anglia and operates on the West Anglia Main Line, providing links to London Liverpool Street, Cambridge and Stanstead Airport.

Currently six trains per hour travel from Harlow Town station to central London during the peak periods. Abellio will be rolling out new Electric Bombardier trains in 2019 with on-track testing already beginning. By the end of 2022, it is expected that all trains on the West Anglia Main Line calling at Harlow Town Station will be Electric Bombardier. This will significantly increase overall rail capacity to/from Harlow.

Harlow Town StationAbellio do not anticipate any capacity issues at Harlow Town Station due to additional passengers from Gilston Park Estate and additional Local Plan growth.

Proposals have been developed for a northern station access from Burnt Mill Lane/Burnt Mill Close which would be used by pedestrians and cyclists.

Abellio and Network Rail have indicated in-principle support for this and we will work with them to secure its implementation.

A plan showing a potential walking/cycling connection to the north of the station is shown at Appendix B: Plan 7. The new station entrance would be created by extending the existing bridge over the tracks to land between the tracks and the river. It would reduce travel distances from areas to the north of Harlow, including Gilston Park Estate. For example, the distance from Village 1 to the station would be 1.3km, an approximately 15 – 20-minute walk. This is not an unusual walk distance to a fast and frequent rail service.

Places for People will work with Network Rail, Abellio and the local authorities to undertake a feasibility study into the delivery of this improvement.


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The Sustainable Movement Strategy will encourage seamless journeys and easy interchange. An important element will be provision for the “last mile” of the journey, for example between the station and home or between a particular bus route and home. Such journeys can be provided in several ways including:• Use of bicycles either privately owned or through

a cycle hire scheme;

• Use of small “stackable” electric vehicles. These are currently subject to a European research project, Esprit.

Mobility hub Within the development, a mobility hub will feature as a prominent location, which would act as an interchange between transport modes (e.g. bus to cycle). It would be important to locate this in a busy commercial area such as the Village 1 Local Centre so that there is other activity, such as cafés, local retail etc. within or adjacent to the hub. It can also be the location of a delivery interchange where goods transfer from conventional road transport to last mile sustainable delivery and a Community Concierge where people can have goods delivered for collection.

However, such a Mobility Hub would need to be appropriate and respond to demand and therefore this will require further exploration with transport providers as well as the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Team.

Places for People are working with the Garden Town team to develop design guidance for the mobility hub that could be applied throughout the Garden Town.

9 Co-ordinated journeys

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Sustainable Movement Strategy is the Site Wide Travel Plan. A Travel Plan is a package of measures and actions designed to encourage safe, healthy and sustainable travel options. This fits in with the objectives of the “Healthy Place Strategy” for the whole development that aims to create healthier lifestyles and reduce demands on healthcare facilities.

A Travel Plan is an evolving document which enables adjustments to be made to best achieve the stated aims and targets.

The Site Wide Travel Plan will be organised, promoted and monitored by a dedicated Travel Plan Co-ordinator (TPC).

The primary elements of the plan are described opposite.

Information and publicityInformation will be disseminated through a number of channels including:• Community notice boards;

• Welcome Packs;

• Travel Awareness initiatives and events;

• Website; and

• Mobile Apps.

Personal travel planningThe TPC will organise Personal Travel Planning (PTP) within the development. This focuses on individual households and how they can make sustainable travel choices given their specific lifestyles and needs. PTP will be offered to new households and new employees free of charge. The TPC will also make the service available to members of the local community.

Promotion of walking and cyclingWalking and cycling routes will be advertised in prominent locations such as on the website and in welcome packs. In addition, events such as Walk to School Weeks and National Bike Week will also be promoted as part of the Travel Plan.

Cycle training will be offered and funded by the TPC. The TPC will also liaise with local retailers to provide discount vouchers for bicycles and associated equipment.

10 Travel plan and health and wellbeing


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Public transportUp-to-date details of bus and train services, including route information and service frequencies, will be provided within residents/employees/pupil’s welcome packs and will be displayed on the Gilston Park Estate website. Incentives to use public transport will be provided to new residents.

Car sharingLiftshare offer a service (https://herts.liftshare.com) and this will be promoted by the TPC. This is a website which offers a free matching service for car passengers and drivers who are making the same car journeys in Hertfordshire.

Community conciergeA Community Concierge is a facility located in village hubs where goods can be delivered for later collection. The provision of such facilities will be explored.

Smart technologyThe Government’s Future of Mobility Strategy identifies active travel, automation, demand-responsive transport, shared mobility and micro-mobility as having the potential to transform how people, goods and services move. If successfully channelled, these interventions have the potential to deliver step-change change advances for society, the environment and economy. Much of this change will be because of increases in flexible ways of working. Digital connectivity offers many opportunities to help people choose when and how they move around – for example, consideration will be given about how to develop a bespoke App/smartcard or integrate the new communities at Gilston Park Estate with an existing system for travel information.

Specific travel plansAs well as a Site Wide Travel Plan applying to the whole site, specific travel plans will be developed for schools, employment uses and other relevant non-residential land uses.

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Travel Plan managementAs set out earlier in this document, Places for People will establish a Transport Review Group (TRG) to manage ongoing transport related to the site. It is considered that there is a real opportunity for a development at Gilston Park Estate to act as a catalyst for change not only in the new community but also within existing communities in East Hertfordshire and Harlow, through providing strong leadership.Adopting this approach to travel planning for land within Gilston Park Estate will require the local authorities and the other key stakeholders to ‘buy in’ to the concept and work in partnership with Places for People. As noted above, this is facilitated by the Places for People’s long-term commitment to the site.


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Appendix A: Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Transport Strategy (2019) —Opportunities and Provision

Current Position Opportunities What is the GPE providing?

How is the GPE providing this?

Home and flexible working6.9% of the working population works at or mainly from home.

“Better Digital” – delivery of superfast broadband and 5G to support increased home and flexible working.

• Digital Masterplan for the site to ensure it is at the forefront of digital capability.

• future proofing to cater for advances in technology, including 5G capability.

• Co-working hubs within the villages to reduce the need to travel off-site.

Built into the Masterplan.

Walking and cycling

Harlow has a reasonably good walking and cycling network and 16% of the resident population walks or cycles to work.

Some parts of the town are not well served by the network, including the more recent growth areas, and links to neighbouring settlements and villages are limited.

There are missing links, outdated facilities and severance caused by existing roads.

The proportion of residents who walk or cycle for any purpose was 89% (East Herts), 87% (Epping Forest), and 84% (Harlow) vs. 87% UK in 2014/15 in spite of the availability of relatively good walking and cycling network.

Update the existing pedestrian and cycle network and fill in its gaps, reduce conflicts with motorised vehicles,and make best use of Green Wedges for increased commuting and leisure walking and cycling trips.

Provide walking and cycling routes that interconnect the new communities where practicable.

“Sustainable Transport Corridors” – provide a framework of key north-south and east-west public transport, walking and cycling routes.

Expand the existing River Stort crossing and provide a new River Stort crossing to improve connections with the Gilston Area.

• Developing an overall masterplan that puts walking and cycling at the top of its transport hierarchy.

• Providing pedestrian and cycle connections from the site to Harlow in the form of a 5m footway/cycle link to Burnt Mill Roundabout (including bridge over the A414 to remove conflict with vehicles) and existing facility of Edinburgh Way and new route along Station Approach.

• Providing a 5m wide footway/cycleway adjacent to the Eastern Crossing to connect with River Way.

• Implementing site wide travel planning that encourages residents to use sustainable travel modes.

Mixture of built into the masterplan, delivered though S278 highway works and commitments through S106 obligations.

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BusHarlow has a comprehensive local bus network, with around 40 daytime bus routes, run by six operators.

Buses provide accessible transport options for all and help keep the network moving.

Most services travel to the bus station so bus journeys to the key employment and retail sites on the periphery of the town often require an intermediate change of buses.

Services are very limited to neighbouring settlements such as Epping and Bishop’s Stortford.


More direct, frequent and integrated public transport services to a range of destinations.

Review options for a Park and Ride facility which links to a Mass Rapid Transit system.

Explore innovation within bus provision such as “on-demand services”.

Further bus priority building on the existing network would reduce delays and congestion in the peak periods.

• Delivering the extended Central Crossing which will provide two new traffic lanes for buses only between the site and Burnt Mill Roundabout. The new traffic lanes will be for buses only from the outset when completed.

• Providing bus priority at the northern and southern end of the Central crossing to give buses priority over general traffic entering the junctions.

• Providing a transport hub in a prominent and busy location within Village 1 to encourage and facilitate travel by sustainable modes, including buses. Places for People are working with Garden Town team to define the parameters of the transport hub that can used throughout the other Garden Towns.

• Providing a bus service with a frequency of 10minutes or less throughout the site when the development is fully built out.

• On-going discussions about “on demand services” such as ArrivaClick are taking place.



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RailThe location of the rail stations on the northern edge of Harlow are quite distant for parts of the town and the proposed Garden Town Communities.

Rail stations are located on the edge of the town and access to the town centre from the main station by foot is not easy.

Improve rail stations and services on the West Anglia Main Line and lobby for the benefits of four tracking and Crossrail 2 at Broxbourne.

Improve sustainable routes to the town centre from the station and reduce severance.

Improve wayfinding.

• Linking the train station with the GPE by providing segregated walking and cycling routes as well as introducing segregated bus lanes and priority over the Central Crossing towards the station.

• Contributing towards a northern access into the station which will be accessed through Burnt Mill Lane.


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RoadHarlow is connected to the Strategic Road Network at M11 J7 and Harlow is sometimes considered as a through route to access this junction.A new motorway junction J7a will be constructed to the north east of the town.Parts of the network, particularly the A414, are reaching, or are over, capacity during peak periods, constraining access to Harlow potentially stifling growth.The A414 presently provides the principal crossing over the River Stort and railway line connecting the original Harlow New Town with the Gilston Area and has very limited walking and cycling provision, no bus priority and presently suffers from peak period congestion.Private vehicle trips represent a high mode share of current commuter trips, with 75% travel by car or van, higher than the 69% national average.Widespread availability of affordable and privately controlled parking provision throughout the town encourages private vehicle trips as the easy choice.Increasing congestion will worsen air quality. Many new and existing residents of the new Garden Communities may have established, or bring with them, behaviours of car use based upon their current opportunities.

“Better Digital” – delivery of superfast broadband and 5G to support home and flexible working.


Expand the existing River Stort crossing and provide a new River Stort crossing to improve connections with the Gilston Area.

Undertake improvements to the A414, completion of M11 J7a in 2022/23 and schemes identified in the Memorandum of Understanding on Highways & TransportationInfrastructure for the West Essex / East Hertfordshire area.

Review options for the implementation of a Workplace Parking Levy.

Review options for a Park and Ride facility which links to a Mass Rapid Transit system.

• Reducing the need to travel through Digital Masterplan, future proofing and co-working hubs..

• Delivering the new Central Crossing Sustainable Transport Corridor.

• Delivering the new River Stort Crossing (Eastern Crossing).

• Encouraging and facilitating the use of Electric Vehicles reduce the impact of vehicles on air quality.

• Supportive of the introduction of a Workplace Parking Levy.



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Appendix B: Plan 1

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Appendix B: Plan 2


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Appendix B: Plan 3

33

Appendix B: Plan 4


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Appendix B: Plan 5

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Appendix B: Plan 6


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Appendix B: Plan 7

The outline planning application for Gilston Park Estate is accompanied by a suite of application documents. A number of documents have been submitted for formal approval, as identified below. Other documents are submitted in support of the application which consists of ‘strategies’ that provide a topic specific explanation of the approach to development at Gilston Park Estate, and ‘technical’ documents that analyse the compliance of the proposals from a planning policy and guidance context. The strategies draw on information from a variety of the technical documents as graphically presented below.

Outline Planning Application

Documents for ApprovalPlanning application forms and certificates

Application Drawings

Development Specification

Strategic Design Guide

Supporting Documents

Strategies TechnicalPlacemaking Strategy

Sustainability Strategy

Sustainable Movement Strategy

Natural and Historic Landscape Strategy

Housing Strategy

Health and Wellbeing Strategy

Inclusive Growth Strategy

Governance Strategy

Education and Learning Strategy

Environmental Statement

Planning Statement

Landscape and Green Infrastructure Report

Historic Environment Report

Housing Statement

Statement of Community Involvement

Infrastructure Delivery Plan

Design and Access Statement

Planning Permission

• Application Drawings

• Development Specification

• Strategic Design Guide

• Environmental Statement Mitigation

• S106 Agreement / Planning Conditions

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