Draft Regulation 18 Sandwell Local Plan

11. Transport

Introduction

11.1 The Local Transport Authority for the West Midlands metropolitan area, including Sandwell, is the West Midlands Combined Authority through its transport arm, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). TfWM has strategic oversight of the whole network including public transport and major highways, other than the national Strategic Road network (SRN). The region's transport strategy, along with the policies and programmes that support it, are set out in the Local Transport Plan (LTP) - Movement for Growth (2016). A review of the LTP is currently underway and where appropriate, Sandwell transport policies reflect the approach being taken through this review.

11.2 The delivery of an improved and integrated transport network both within Sandwell and in links to regional and national networks is fundamental to achieving the Vision and in helping to transform the borough, deliver housing growth and improve economic performance, and thus in achieving Strategic Objective 10. The development of transport networks in the West Midlands is focused on a step change in public transport provision serving and linking centres, improving sustainable transport facilities and services across the area, improving connectivity to national networks and improving the efficiency of strategic highway routes.The improvements needed to deliver the transport strategy are shown on the Transport Key Diagram (Figure 13).

11.3 To help address the climate change crisis, strategic and local transport policies, plans and programmes must emphasise the delivery of a modernised and sustainable transport network. Specific objectives include reducing pollution and road congestion through improvements to public transport, promoting walking and cycling networks and reducing the need to travel. National policy also focuses on the need for the transport network to support sustainable economic growth.

11.4 Additionally, the West Midlands LTP has a key role to play in reducing carbon emissions and the impact on the natural environment. The Sandwell Local Plan will therefore need to focus on promoting the appropriate design, location and layout of development, increasing investment in infrastructure, improving the quality, equality and accessibility of public transport, supporting walking and cycling, enhancing road safety and reducing the amount of emissions produced by transportation.

Figure 13 - Transport Key Diagram

Priorities for the Development of the Transport Network

11.5 It is acknowledged that the COVID19 pandemic and its aftermath, and resultant the shift towards homeworking has impacted on the way in which transport is used. In particular, there has been a significant impact on public transport patronage levels which may take many years to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

11.6 However, high-quality public transport combined with the provision of an extensive safe and convenient active travel (walking and cycling) network remains at the heart of the West Midlands transport strategy. The development of the transport network is focused on a step change in public transport provision serving and linking centres, improving sustainable transport facilities and services across the area, improving connectivity to national networks and improving the efficiency of strategic highway routes.

11.7 Additionally, transport strategy in Sandwell, and the wider West Midlands, has a key role to play in reducing carbon emissions and the impact on the natural environment. The Sandwell Local Plan will therefore need to focus on promoting the appropriate design, location and layout of development, increasing investment in infrastructure, improving the quality, equality and accessibility of public transport, supporting walking and cycling, enhancing road safety and reducing the amount of emissions produced by transportation.

Justification

11.8 Good connectivity to the wider regional national transport networks and Birmingham International Airport for both passengers and freight has been identified as being necessary to support the regeneration of Sandwell. The economic growth will be supported by improved access to major global economies.

11.9 Movement for Growth seeks to enable all residents being able to access at least three strategic centres within 45 minutes (AM peak). It envisages this being achieved through a combination of frequent rapid transit services and high quality "turn up and go" bus services.

11.10 A strategic public transport "spine" comprising high quality, reliable, fast and high-capacity rapid transit between the strategic centres - Brierley Hill, Walsall, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton and Birmingham remains as a crucial element of the Black Country's and Sandwell's transport strategy. It is necessary to support the role of these centres as a focus for employment, shopping and leisure and increasingly, housing.

11.11 Currently Metro line 1 provides the required standard of link between Wolverhampton, West Bromwich and Birmingham but it is important that the public transport modes of rail, metro and bus are better integrated to ensure that people can use them to travel where and when they need to. The combination of the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill metro extension and the proposed Dudley Port Integrated Transport Hub will add Brierley Hill (and Dudley) to the rapid transit network.

11.12 The Black Country Rapid Transit study of 2016 concluded that full delivery of the Public Transport Spine would best be achieved by completing the Stourbridge to Walsall corridor as a tram-based facility (subject to the adoption of Tram-Train technology) whilst the Walsall to Birmingham link should be catered for through bus rapid transit. This is the A34 SPRINT project, Phase 2 of which is currently being delivered.

11.13 The completion of feasibility studies into the provision of the Stourbridge to Brierley Hill and Wednesbury to Walsall rapid transit proposals will be an early requirement for taking the strategy forward, with the latter providing improved connectivity for residents in Tipton and Wednesbury in particular.

11.14 It is vital that new development has access to high quality public transport facilities and services from the outset as this will ensure that people travelling to and from these areas do not establish unsustainable travel patterns due to the initial absence of good public transport.

11.15 The Sandwell Local Plan supports the delivery of an enhanced transport network for the borough, to ensure a seamless integration of land-use and transport planning and to demonstrate the strong interdependency of future land-use decisions and adequate servicing by a variety of travel modes. The exact mode of public transport should reflect existing demand and take account of potential future economic or housing growth points to ensure an integrated approach to sustainable development and travel patterns. This is essential to support the scale of growth proposed for the core regeneration areas and strategic centres and to create an effective transportation system to support sustainable communities. This transport network will provide communities with access to employment, leisure, education and health care and will facilitate improved access to employment sites.

11.16 In this regard the re-opening of rail corridors such as Walsall to Aldridge, and the delivery of an upgraded Wolverhampton to Shrewsbury line and the Midland Rail Hub (developed through Midlands Connect) will support housing growth both within Sandwell and in those areas meeting housing and employment need beyond the borough's boundaries.

11.17 The operation of the highway network needs to be improved to support the growth and long-term viability of Sandwell's economy whilst limiting the environmental effect of transport usage. Movement for Growth sets out a strategy of making the best of the existing highway network in a coordinated way through a programme of Key Route Network (KRN) corridor-based multi-modal improvements. Movement for Growth is currently being reviewed during 2021 with the aim of further strengthening the strategy to help achieve the West Midlands target for net zero carbon emissions by 2041.

11.18 New highway building within Sandwell will be mainly in support of regeneration, but some key junctions on the DfT's Major Road Network and the West Midlands Key Route Network such as important links for public transport and to the motorway network for freight will be improved by major construction schemes. Highway improvements will be expected to address the needs of all users especially pedestrians and cyclists and to cater for bus priority in line with current Government guidance.

11.19 Strategic Employment Areas are defined in terms of good access standards to the motorway network. As no new motorways are planned within the lifetime of this plan the M6, M5 and M54 motorways will remain vital transport links for Sandwell business and freight.

11.20 Buses will continue to dominate local public transport provision in Sandwell throughout the life of the plan period. 85% of all passenger miles were catered for by bus prior to the COVID19 pandemic and bus services have recovered at a faster rate than either rail or metro/ by 2026. The National Bus Strategy (2021) requires bus priority to be an integral part of all highway improvements. Therefore, work on the key highway corridors identified through the Key Route Network Action plans will play a significant role in delivering this requirement through a partnership of TfWM, Local Highway Authorities and operators. Specific local measures to help buses will be delivered in other locations where appropriate along with the upgrading of bus stations in strategic and other centres where demand resulting from the concentration of new developments requires it. Coaches have a role to play in providing affordable long-distance connectivity and access facilities to major Black Country destinations and will be encouraged.

11.21 While improvement of accessibility to bus services will be a priority, some people will have little choice but to make the first part of their journey by car. The success of Park and Ride in contributing to a sustainable travel pattern will depend on minimising the distance driven before transferring to public transport. Well-located Park and Ride facilities can provide a realistic alternative for many car drivers and contribute to environmental improvement by reducing congestion on radial routes into centres at peak times and by improving public transport patronage. However, new Park and Ride sites will only be developed in accordance with the adopted West Midlands Park & Ride strategy.

11.22 As transport projects reach the design stage there will be a need to safeguard the land needed for the implementation of schemes. Where projects are sufficiently advanced, improvement lines will be imposed, and land will be safeguarded through the Local plan and the Policies Map.