Page 441 - All files for Planning Inspectorate update

requirements of the LHA's parking standards. The LHA parking standards have changed
from the 5th August 2019, however given the extensive history at the site the LHA consider
the standards agreed previously would still apply. Minor changes are applied tothe internal
layout of the site however these are not anticipated to result in any changes that would
warrant a change in highway comments.

Original comments

Summary and Background-The site is currently occupied by an office building, which was
formerly occupied by EDF Energy. The existing building has a gross external floor area of
3,057 square metres with 64 car parking spaces and an additional, informal, overflow
parking area.

WSCC in its role of Local Highway Authority (LHA) previously commented on an application
(DM/18/1548) for 71 dwellings in July 2018. At this time the LHA did not raise an objection to
the proposals. The application was subsequently refused by the Local Planning Authority
(LPA) in March 2019.

This latest development proposes 54 dwellings. The 54 dwellings comprise one and two-
bedroom units with 67 car parking spaces provided at the site. Communal cycle parking is
also provided, with 52 cycle parking spaces across the development site.

The application is supported by a Transport Statement (TS); this includes TRICS data. Upon
inspection of the information and statements submitted the LHA would support the
proposals, additional comments and clarity is provided within the response below.

Access-Vehicular access to the proposed development will be taken via the existing access
onto the A22 Lewes Road, which includes a right turn lane for vehicles accessing the site.
Pedestrian and cycle access will be via the same access, with the access road forming a
shared surface environment within the site.

Vehicular access for the site will be taken via the existing access arrangement onto the A22
Lewes Road. This existing access point includes a Right Turn Lane (RTL), for vehicles
accessing the site which is considered a benefit to the proposed development given the
higher volumes of traffic Lewes Road caters for.

At this point Lewes Road is subject to a 30 miles per hour speed limit. In accordance with
Manual for Streets (MfS) parameters 43 metres of visibility are achievable from a 2.4 metre
'X' distance in both directions. The road is a straight road, with footways offset from the
carriageway edge, there are no visibility issues from the existing site access, with all land
required for the visibility splay located within the highway boundary. The LHA would
recommend a condition to secure the splays of 43 metres throughout the proposed usage.

The LHA have reviewed data supplied to WSCC by Sussex Police over a period of the last 3
years. There have been no recorded injury accidents in the vicinity of the site access or
using the RTL onto Lewes Road. There is no evidence to suggest that the road is operating
unsafely, or that the proposed would exacerbate an existing safety concern. In conclusion
the principle of the access has been demonstrated as acceptable and 'Safe and Suitable' in
accordance with Paragraph 108 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Layout and Parking- There are no concerns with the layout of the site. The access road will
take the form of a 4.8 metre wide arrangement with 8 metre kerb radii. An internal footpath is
provided within the site, this should be 1.8 metres in width. This is considered suitable as
this will be a low speed, low traffic environment. Swept path diagrams have been provided
showing larger vehicles turning paths within the site, this would be required. The applicant