Step 1: Sustainable Travel Facilities
The promotion and enabling of safe and convenient journeys by walking, cycling, public transport and car clubs should be prioritised in all projects within Ebbsfleet.
Objectives
Supporting the set-up, operation, promotion and communication of sustainable travel networks and services within a project’s travel strategy, including public transport, walking, cycling, car clubs, bike share and any other emerging sustainable travel systems and technologies.
Masterplanning to ensure the location and quality of facilities included within each site will help to enhance the perceived convenience and attractiveness of walking, cycling, public transport and sustainable travel in general.
Developing Sustainable Travel Plans for projects that prioritise sustainable travel choices.
General Guidance
G1 Travel Strategy: The travel strategy should review current, planned and emerging sustainable transport services/technologies, and review how the project could adopt, support or contribute towards the use and growth of sustainable transport modes in Ebbsfleet.
Walking guidance
G2 Pedestrian access: Sites should be masterplanned to ensure safe and attractive pedestrian access from every dwelling to the street network.
G3 Accessible: Aim to provide a wheelchair -accessible approach to all dwellings from a footpath which connects to the area’s wider footpath network.
G4 Doors onto streets: Locate all apartment blocks on a defined street designed in accordance with the Ebbsfleet Public Realm Strategy, with a communal front door accessible from the public street.
G5 Doors onto streets: Aim to provide a front door onto the street for all street-facing dwellings located on the ground floor of apartment blocks.
G6 Welcoming: Aim to provide an attractive and comfortable entrance area which aligns with EDC guidance on entrance areas.
G7 Use the Ebbsfleet Wayfinding Strategy: Incorporate appropriate wayfinding furniture ( as specified in wayfinding strategy), and use the placement principles, to locate signage in the optimum locations.
Car clubs guidance
G8 Accessibility to a local car club: Has the potential to reduce the need for car ownership. Each project should review the proximity of existing or planned car club bays. The aim should be for every resident to have access to at least two car club parking bays within 5 minutes walking radius.
If no car club bays are currently available or planned within the neighbourhood, masterplanning should identify proposed locations for dedicated car-club parking bays.
The table below sets out the indicative level of car club provision for different sizes of residential development:
Bike share guidance
G9 Location: Each project should review the proximity of the nearest bike share hub.
If no hub exists within a 5 minute radius, applicants should test the project site to establish the optimum location for a bike share hub, as well as considering the number of trips as modelled through any overarching transport strategy / transport statement submitted to inform future reserved matters applications.
When a bike share hub location is identified within a scheme, a space with the minimum dimensions of 5m x 2m should be provided within a suitable location within the public realm. EDC can provide further guidance on the design of cycle share hubs.