New Glass Processing Factory

Apex Transport Planning was appointed to provide transport planning and highways support for the development of a new glass processing factory at Baglan Way, delivering a major industrial and employment-generating facility within an established strategic employment area.

The proposals comprised a large-scale industrial building with associated access arrangements, car and cycle parking, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and servicing facilities.

Given the scale and nature of the proposed development, transport was a key consideration of the planning application. The principal challenges included:

• Designing safe and appropriate vehicular access arrangements and a site layout suitable for HGVs, staff and visitor vehicles
• Assessing the traffic impacts on the surrounding highway network, including key junctions, and demonstrating that the development would not give rise to a material impact
• Providing appropriate electric vehicle charging infrastructure in line with policy requirements
• Ensuring suitable connections by sustainable modes, including walking and cycling, for staff and visitors
• Supporting the application with a robust Travel Plan to encourage sustainable travel choicesThese matters required a detailed and robust evidence base to support the proposals.

We prepared a comprehensive Transport Assessment to support the planning application, undertaking extensive analysis of existing and forecast traffic conditions on the surrounding highway network.

Our work included:

• Detailed traffic modelling and junction capacity assessments to test the impact of the development. This included analysis of development generated traffic at four junctions on the network, demonstrating that the proposals would not have a material impact on the operation of these key junctions and that no mitigation was required
• Design and assessment of site access arrangements and internal layout, including swept path analysis for servicing and HGV movements
• A policy-led parking strategy incorporating electric vehicle charging provision
• Assessment of walking and cycling connectivity and opportunities to encourage sustainable travel

Alongside the Transport Assessment, we prepared a robust Travel Plan, setting out practical and deliverable measures to promote sustainable travel by staff and visitors. The Travel Plan formed an integral part of the application and was secured through the planning process.

We worked proactively with the project team and engaged constructively with the highway authority to respond to comments and demonstrate that the proposals were acceptable in transport and highway terms.

Planning permission was successfully granted in 2022, with the local planning and highway authorities confirming that the development would not result in a material impact on the surrounding highway network.

The approved scheme supports significant local employment opportunities and delivers a modern industrial facility with safe access arrangements, appropriate parking and servicing provision, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and a robust framework to promote sustainable travel.