Thank you for your email received by us on 15 March 2017 asking for a copy of the traffic report for Bromley Road undertaken by Transport for London (TfL) for Lewisham Council in relation to your planning application.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold the information you require. You asked for:

A traffic report which was carried out by TFL for Lewisham Council in regards to a planning application we have made. The reference given to the application by Lewisham council is DC/16/098134. The traffic report relates specially to Bromley Road

I can advise that we sent the following response to Lewisham Council:

The proposal is located on the A21, Bromley Road, which forms part of the Transport for London Road Network (TLRN). TfL is the highway authority for the TLRN and therefore concerned about any proposal which may affect the safety or performance of this road. Therefore all vehicles associated with the conversion must only park/ stop at permitted locations and within the time periods permitted by existing on-street restrictions. No skips or construction materials shall be kept on the footway or carriageway on the TLRN at any time.

TfL has reviewed the above mentioned application and has the following comments to make:

Vehicle drop-off

• TfL is concerned with the vehicle activity on the TLRN, especially with vehicles stopping on the red route to drop off children to the nursery despite the restrictions, or queuing on the TLRN.

• The other concern is the increase in the number of vehicle trips, likely to be created by this proposal, no travel arrangements have been proposed to manage parking or drop off/pick up for this, this should be included in a travel plan. The Transport assessment has highlighted the hours of 7:00-10:00 AM as the morning period when children are dropped off, however this period of drop-off seems very long. The majority of parents will drop children off around the same time, which may then cause queueing or illegal parking on the TLRN. TfL therefore requests the applicant implements staggered drop-off times for children at the nursery, to prevent any impact on the TLRN.

• TfL carried out its own TRICS survey data for 8:00-9:00 AM peak and the figure of 25 two-way vehicle trips was highlighted which far surpasses the figure of 17 in the proposals transport assessment. TfL requests the applicant revaluates figures and carries out further surveys to demonstrates the proposal will have no impact on the TLRN.

• TfL also seeks clarification on the total amount of cars the driveway is able to park at any one time, as the transport statement states 4-5?

Travel Plan

• A full travel plan will need to be produced, providing parents and staff with information on the transportations options to and from the nursery. More guidance on what the travel plan should contain can be found at: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/urban-planning-and-construction/travel-plans/travel-plan-content. The travel plan will need to be secured by condition.

Car Parking

• The transport statement indicates there will be the inclusion of one blue badge, this blue badge space should be secured by condition.

Cycle parking

• TfL notes that the current cycle parking provision for the proposal (six spaces) meets London plan standards. These six spaces should be secured by condition.

TfL requests additional information is provided and the above points as outlined above are addressed prior to being supportive of the application.

Following this information, we provided the additional detail to the local authority below:

Vehicle Drop-off

• Concerns were raised about the possibility of vehicles stopping illegally along Bromley Road, to drop children off. The applicant has stated that parents will be aware that they will be penalised for stopping along a red route. It is noted that parents should be aware of restrictions in place along the a red route, however in reality if there isn’t sufficient space available within the car park then unfortunately this may happen. The car parking survey carried out by the applicant shows parking availability in the surrounding area, which users of the nursery can use. Details of parking options for users would be best presented within a travel plan, to be provided to parents on joining the nursery. Further details on this set out below.

Management

• As the applicant states it is expected that the available space within the site for parking and drop-offs would ensure that there will be no negligible impact upon the TLRN. Initially the applicant should monitor drop-offs to ensure there are no issues related to vehicles dropping off children, to ensure there is no impact on the TLRN.

Parking accommodation

• The applicant has stated that that the front car park is able to accommodate a maximum of 8 cars at any one time, TfL would request that the applicant produces drawings of vehicle tracking, showing a worst case scenario (8 vehicles), in order to confirm this can take place within the red line boundary.

Travel Plan

• The applicant has stated that given the small scale of the proposals the requirement of a Travel Plan is considered excessive and unlikely to present any significant effects. It is a requirement for all schools and nurseries to have a travel plan. The objective of travel plans are in part to promote a mode shift away from private vehicle trips to more sustainable modes and to reduce emissions arising from transport. Travel plans are especially important for schools and nurseries as emissions have an even greater effect on children. The travel plan should include commitments promoting mode shifts away from private vehicle use by both staff and parents. This can include measures such as:

• Holding regular walking events such as led walks at lunchtime or after work, and pedometer challenges;

• A local recruitment strategy and incentives for staff to relocate closer to work;

• Public transport travel subsidy (eg season ticket loan, Oyster card top up, pre-loaded Oyster card);

• Providing dedicated parking available only for low emission vehicles in a priority location.

The applicant should provide additional details as stated above along with a travel plan before TfL are able to be supportive of the application.

If this is not the information you are looking for, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London