The Senior Transport Planner introduced the
report providing an update on the progress of work undertaken by
Mott McDonald to model the impact of the submitted Maidstone
Borough Council (MBC) Local Plan on M20 junctions 5 to 8.
It was explained that:
·
Kent County Council (KCC) had raised the issue that the VISUM
modelling did not depict traffic modelling on the M20.
·
Highways England (HE) recommended localised modelling to be
performed on this area, and put forward that developments in
neighbouring boroughs should be factored into modelling.
·
Mott McDonald were commissioned to undertake the work and produced
modelling for the local plan period 2016-2031, taking into account
both consented and non-consented developments.
·
The results of modelling indicated that in 2031 all junctions would
be over capacity, but that the impact of non-consented developments
could be mitigated using high level approaches such as part
signalisation and changes to road markings.
·
A full technical report had been submitted to HE in September 2016.
Feedback from this had been received and considered, and a
statement of common ground between MBC and HE was expected to be
made in November 2016.
Councillor Willis addressed the committee as a
Visiting Member.
The committee discussed joint working between
neighbouring boroughs during the development of local plans.
It was noted that a report on the Regulation
18 Consultation on the Tonbridge and Malling local plan was included at item 15 of the
agenda.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.