Agenda item

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/3) seeking approval for three Devon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP), attached.

The plans are attached as;

Appendix I – Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP

Appendix II - Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam LCWIP

Appendix III – Exeter LCWIP

Three Impact Assessments have been prepared for the attention of Members at the meeting, which are attached and also available at;

Ø   Teignbridge Local Cycling and Walking Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

Ø   Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

Ø   Exeter Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

RESOLVED

(a) that the adoption of the Heart of Teignbridge Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, provided in Appendix I, be approved;

(b) that the adoption of the Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, provided in Appendix II, also be approved;

(c) that the adoption of the Exeter Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, provided in Appendix III, be agreed; and

(d) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management, to make minor amendments to the Plans.

(Councillors Connett, Dewhirst, Leaver and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/3) seeking approval for three Devon Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIP), circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

The plans were attached as;

Appendix I – Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP

Appendix II - Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam LCWIP

Appendix III – Exeter LCWIP

The Council’s current Strategy for active travel infrastructure, the Cycling and Multi-Use Trail Network Strategy, had been approved by Cabinet in 2015. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) were a strategic approach to identifying cycling and walking improvements at the local level and the framework was set out in the Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, which formed an important part of Government’s strategy to increase the number of active travel trips. They were also an important tool in realising the Government’s Gear Change vision but were an important part of local authorities making the case for future active travel funding, whether through securing external grants or in negotiations with developers.

The Council had so far completed three LCWIPs: Heart of Teignbridge (HoT), Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam (BBN), and Exeter which had involved a technical, evidence-based approach to identify the challenges and develop prioritised routes, followed by public consultation and endorsement of the document by the relevant Highways and Traffic Orders Committee. Section 5 of the Report described how subsequent minor changes to the draft plans had been approved in accordance with HATOC resolutions and all three plans had been endorsed by respective HATOC meetings.

The LCWIP documents sought to outline the future walking and cycling infrastructure priorities in their respective areas over the next 10 to 20 years. They were ambitious, transformational plans aimed at substantially increasing walking and cycling levels across Devon as well as supporting the climate crisis and health and wellbeing.

The walking and cycling proposals in the respective geographies of the Heart of Teignbridge (covering Newton Abbot, Kingsteignton and Kingskerswell); Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam, and Exeter were considered the most strategically important, building upon existing established active travel networks and with greatest potential to attract developer funding due to the scale of growth planned in the localities.

The Heart of Teignbridge LCWIP (Appendix I) set out walking and cycling proposals along five key corridors, which included Newton Abbot Town Centre, Kingsteignton, Buckland and Milber, Wolborough and  Kingskerswell and Torbay as well as additional proposals to improve active travel provision within the NA1 Houghton Barton and NA3 Wolborough strategic site allocations.

The Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam (BBN) LCWIP (Appendix II) set out four walking and six cycling proposals in Barnstaple, Bideford, and Northam which included Alexandra Street (Barnstaple), Barbican Road and Queen Street (Barnstaple), Yelland to Barnstaple, Roundswell to Pilton (Barnstaple), Whiddon Valley to Barnstaple and Landkey to Barnstaple.

The core focus of the Exeter LCWIP (Appendix III) would be within the administrative boundary of the city, setting out 20 cycling routes and 5 city-centre walking routes strategically identified as ‘missing gaps’ in the existing walking and cycling network. These included the Cycling Routes E1 – Exeter St David’s Station to Topsham, E3 – City Centre to Cranbrook, E4 – Exeter University to Science Park, E5 – Stoke Hill to St Thomas, E6 – ‘Nurses Way’ Stoke Hill to Marsh Barton Station and Industrial Estate, E7 – Exeter St David’s Station to Exeter Quay, E8 – Wonford to Sowton Industrial Estate, E9 – Topsham/Newcourt to City Centre via Wonford and St Leonards, E10 – Pynes Hill Business Park to Sowton Industrial Estate and Exeter Business Park, E12 – Beacon Heath to Marsh Barton Station and Industrial Estate, E13 – Clyst St Mary to Topsham via Clyst Road, E14 – Marsh Barton Station to city centre via Water Lane development and Exeter Quay, E15 – South West Exeter development to Exe Bridges, E16 – South West Exeter development to River Exe via Alphington and St Thomas,E17 – Ide to Marsh Barton and Industrial Estate, E18 – Exwick Heights to Exeter St David’s Station, E19 – Cowley Bridges to Exeter St David’s Station,E20 – Exeter St David’s Station to South Street via Iron Bridge, E21 – Exeter St David’s Station to city centre via Queen Street and E22 – Newtown to Water Lane development via St Leonards.

The Walking Routes were W1 – Exeter Quay/Haven Banks to city centre via South Street, W2 – Exe Bridges, Fore Street, High Street, Sidwell Street and St Annes Roundabout, W3 – Exeter St David’s to city centre via Queen Street, W4 – Barnfield Road to Princesshay and W5 – New North Road and Longbrook Street to Paris Street.

The priority for delivery and indicative costs for packages of proposals were detailed in the LCWIPs. Other factors that influenced the prioritisation of improvements were deliverability and / or whether alternative routes existed, for example. It was noted that a proposal’s inclusion in an LCWIP did not guarantee its delivery.

The Government launched ‘The Plan for Drivers’ in October 2023 which was its plan to achieve five key outputs for motorists: smoother journeys, stopping unfair enforcement, easier parking, cracking down on inconsiderate driving and helping the transition to zero emission driving. Due to the potential for conflicts between Devon’s LCWIPs and the Plan for Drivers, a review had been undertaken between these documents, considering Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs), 15 Minute Cities and 20mph Speed Limits

There had been extensive consultations on the three plans, which was explained in full at section 5 of the Report.

The Cabinet further noted that the LCWIP documents aligned with the vision and priorities set out in Devon County Council’s Strategic Plan 2021 – 2025 in a number of ways, including responding to the climate emergency, being ambitious for children and young people, supporting sustainable economic recovery, tackling poverty and inequality, improving health and wellbeing and helping communities be safe, connected and resilient.

Three Impact Assessments had been prepared for the attention of Members, which were circulated with the agenda and available at;

Ø   Teignbridge Local Cycling and Walking Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

Ø   Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

Ø   Exeter Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan - Impact Assessment (devon.gov.uk)

The Impact Assessments highlighted that, overall, the LCWIPs would benefit all residents by improving walking and cycling links to employment, education and services. The proposed infrastructure would cater for pedestrians and cyclists of all ages, abilities, and confidence levels and it may enable certain individuals to travel independently by removing transport-related barriers to key destinations.

In summary, the LCWIPs covering the Heart of Teignbridge, Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam and Exeter were ambitious plans for transformative walking and cycling interventions in Devon and would enable the County Council to be in a strong strategic position to secure future funding and ensure that it delivered active travel schemes in locations that delivered maximum impact. The LCWIP documents would contribute towards the development of the Local Transport Plan 4 as a suite of LCWIPs for Devon and ensure Devon could continue to deliver the ambitious active travel infrastructure that met the county’s needs.

The matter having been debated and the options and alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability and carbon impact, risk management, equality and legal considerations and alignment with the Council’s Strategic Plan) set out in the Director’s Report having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the adoption of the Heart of Teignbridge Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, provided in Appendix I, be approved;

(b) that the adoption of the Barnstaple with Bideford and Northam Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, provided in Appendix II, also be approved;

(c) that the adoption of the Exeter Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, provided in Appendix III, be agreed; and

(d) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport be given delegated authority, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management, to make minor amendments to the Plans.