Farleigh Fields West, Backwell

Apex provided expert highways and transport consultancy support for a proposed residential development of 125 homes at Farleigh Fields West, Backwell. The project progressed to a Public Inquiry, where Apex acted as expert witness for highways and transport matters.

Our role included preparing a comprehensive Transport Assessment and Travel Plan for the planning application and a detailed Proof of Evidence for the appeal, addressing the full range of highways, access, sustainability and network capacity issues raised during the planning process.

The key transport and highways issues in relation to the scheme, and which were examined at appeal, were:

• Whether the site was sustainably located for residential development
• The suitability and safety of the proposed site access arrangements
• The impact of development traffic on the local highway network, particularly at Backwell Crossroads
• The effectiveness and deliverability of off-site mitigation, including traffic calming measures
• The implications of future committed schemes and sensitivity scenarios
• Whether the residual cumulative impacts would be “severe” in NPPF terms

These matters were scrutinised through detailed technical evidence and cross-examination at Public Inquiry.

Apex prepared a robust Transport Assessment to support the initial planning application, underpinned by extensive data collection, site observation, analysis and modelling.

A comprehensive walking and cycling audit was undertaken in accordance with relevant guidance, assessing route continuity, footway widths, gradients, crossing facilities, lighting and personal security. This demonstrated that the site has realistic and attractive walking and cycling connections to local schools, services, employment and public transport, supporting the principle of a 20-minute neighbourhood and reducing reliance on the private car.

The proposed site access onto Dark Lane was designed to ensure it could operate safely for all users. The access geometry was developed to accommodate refuse vehicles, service vehicles and emergency access, supported by swept path analysis. Visibility splays were derived from observed vehicle speeds rather than posted speed limits, demonstrating that appropriate stopping sight distances could be achieved in practice. The access strategy was designed in accordance with Manual for Streets and was shown to be deliverable without third-party land constraints.

Extensive junction capacity modelling was undertaken using LinSig at Backwell Crossroads, informed by new traffic surveys and validated queue length observations. The modelling tested multiple scenarios, including:

• Baseline and future year conditions
• Committed development
• Sensitivity testing of public transport improvements
• Local plan growth assumptions

This evidence demonstrated that, even under robust sensitivity scenarios, the development would not result in a severe impact on junction operation or network performance.

A targeted package of off-site mitigation was developed, secured through planning obligations. This included a traffic calming scheme designed to address observed vehicle speeds that exceeded the posted speed limit, improving safety for existing users and future residents. The mitigation also incorporated pedestrian crossing improvements and enhancements along key desire lines, ensuring that development-related movements would be accommodated safely and sustainably.

Following refusal of planning permission, Apex represented the applicant at Public Inquiry. We prepared a detailed Proof of Evidence, responding directly to the highway authority’s concerns and setting out a clear technical justification on each matter in dispute.

Apex worked collaboratively with the highway authority to agree a comprehensive Statement of Common Ground, narrowing the issues to be examined at Inquiry. This confirmed agreement on key matters including access design, trip generation, modelling methodology, assumptions and the absence of any residual highway safety concerns, allowing the Inquiry to focus on the remaining points of principle rather than technical disagreement.

The Inspector concluded that the proposed development would not give rise to unacceptable highway safety issues and that the residual cumulative impacts on the road network would not be severe. Significant weight was placed on the robustness of the Transport Assessment, the detailed junction modelling and the proposed mitigation strategy, as well as the evidence presented on sustainable accessibility and travel choice.

The appeal was allowed, with planning permission granted in April 2025.

The decision confirms that the site can be accessed safely, that development traffic can be accommodated on the surrounding network, and that the transport impacts are fully aligned with national and local planning policy objectives.