Cross Street, Chesterton

mode transport planning was appointed to prepare transport input to Aspire Housing’s plans to invest up to £18.5m in a major regeneration project to create 125 new homes in Chesterton and Crackley. The regeneration project, is the result of two years of extensive engagement and consultation with the community. The final plans address residents’ requests for additional parking, new accommodation for older people and general improvements to the appearance of the area.

The project will redevelop 78 existing properties and replace them with 90 modern rental homes designed specifically for older people, as well as a further 35 houses for market sale. This is to ensure an increase in the range of housing options in the area.

mode’s inputs to the planning application were:

initial high level meeting with representatives from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Staffordshire County Council to agree the broad approach to be undertaken;
liaison with local bus operators to agree the principle of moving and re-providing the existing bus stops;
completion of swept-path analysis, and review of the required visibility in accordance with Manual for Streets, to support a realignment of the existing highway network;
advice and subsequent completion of drawings to outline the extent of a new Traffic Regulation Order (TRO);
completion of a net traffic impact assessment and traffic distribution exercise, along with future year highway capacity assessments and air quality flows;
consideration of future parking demand, in the context of available reserve capacity, derived from parking beat surveys at the site; and
preparation of a transport statement and travel plan to accompany the planning application.

The regeneration proposal was submitted to Newcastle Borough Council in June 2020 for planning approval later in the year. The submission forms part of the housing association’s long-term investment to enhance its service offer to older people.