This Travel Plan develops the measures set out in earlier site Travel Plans and aligns with the Decision Note for the development, in accordance with Condition 39, which states:

“The development hereby approved shall not be opened for trade until a travel plan for the development has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and has been brought into operation. The approved travel plan shall be operated at all times that the development is in operation and shall be reviewed and updated on an annual basis in accordance with details that shall be outlined in the

approved plan. The travel plan and all updates shall be produced using the online TfGM Travel Plan Toolkit and in accordance with current national and local best practice guidance.”

The application site is located in Heaton Norris to the north of Stockport town centre, on land formerly occupied by the Lookers Car Dealership. Vehicular access will be taken from Sparthfield Road via a new priority-controlled junction with Wellington Road. Pedestrian and cycle access will be available from both Sparthfield Road and Wellington

Road.

Wellington Road runs parallel to the proposed site and is a primary road that connects Stockport with Manchester. Wellington Road is a wide single-carriageway road with dedicated bus lanes in both directions operating in the weekday morning and evening peak periods. It has an average carriageway width of approximately 15m. There are footways on both sides of the road with an average consistent width of 2m. Dropped kerbs and tactile paving are provided for the safe crossing of pedestrians on the majority of roads taking access of Wellington Road.

The application site is located in Heaton Norris to the north of Stockport town centre, on

land formerly occupied by the Lookers Car Dealership.

Double-yellow line parking restrictions along Sparthfield Road / Vaughan Road.

Bus lane restrictions to the outer lane of Wellington Road N.

Heaton Moor, Heaton Norris and Stockport are all within a 2-kilometre catchment area. This demonstrates that employees from the local area will be able to access the site by foot. This also indicates that a significant proportion of potential customers will be within reasonable walking distance of the application site.

A number of local amenities are also within a 2km walk of the site (up to 20 minutes’ walk)

which will promote linked trips, these include bus stops, railway stations, ATM, postal facilities, chemist, GP surgery and schools.

Vehicular access to the development will be via a new priority T-junction from Sparthfield

Road. Sparthfield Road is a single carriageway road of approximately 6m wide, has a 30mph speed limit, and runs east-west between a commercial access serving Kingsway Auto Services and Wellington Road. The site access lies about 50m west of the junction of Wellington Road / Sparthfield Road.

Wellington Road North forms the site’s eastern boundary and links to Sparthfield Road

at a priority T-junction approximately 50m east of the site access. From here, Wellington Road is a two-way single carriageway road with weekday peak period dedicated bus lanes operating in both directions. The carriageway measures approximately 7.5m wide (in each direction), and runs in a broadly north-south alignment between Manchester (to the north) and Stockport (to the south). The carriageway is bound by 2m wide street-lit footways along its length. Dropped kerbs and tactile paving are provided for the safe crossing of pedestrians, where there

are minor junctions.

Lidl will additionally provide the following supporting infrastructure, associated with the

store development:

• Lidl GB will provide a controlled Toucan crossing of the A6 as part of the

conditioned S278 works.

• Land will be reserved for the future provision by SMBC of a segregated cycle way

along both the Wellington Road and Sparthfield Road frontages.

• Lidl will provide dropped kerbs and tactile paving on either side of the Sparthfield

Road bellmouth with Wellington Road.

Lidl will additionally provide the following supporting infrastructure, associated with the

store development:

• Lidl GB will provide a controlled Toucan crossing of the A6 as part of the

conditioned S278 works.

• Land will be reserved for the future provision by SMBC of a segregated cycle way

along both the Wellington Road and Sparthfield Road frontages.

• Lidl will provide dropped kerbs and tactile paving on either side of the Sparthfield

Road bellmouth with Wellington Road.

There is good cycle infrastructure within the vicinity of the site; signage indicates that cyclists are permitted to use bus lanes during operational hours, which provides good separation between vehicular traffic and cyclists.

Additionally, National Cycle Network (NCN) Routes 55 and 62 are also available in close proximity to the site, available from the junction of Bowerfold Lane / Southdown Close. NCN 55 runs on mostly on-carriageway routes towards Didsbury to the west; to the east it diverts south at Lancashire Hill, where the route continues on mostly traffic-free paths along the River Goyt, extending southeast towards Marple.

24 short stay cycle parking is proposed underneath the canopy and in front of the glazed end of the

store. Secure staff cycle parking will also be provided for employees within the warehouse.

Twelve Sheffield stands, providing 24 cycle parking spaces for customers, are

proposed under the store canopy for shelter and in front of the glazed elevation of the

store. They are overlooked by customers at the packing shelf and are therefore under

constant surveillance for maximum security.

Service 25: Stockport – Heaton Moor – Burnage

– Fallowfield – Chorlton – Stretford –

The Trafford Centre

Service 191 / 192: Manchester - Heaton Chapel -

Stockport – Stepping Hill – Hazel

Grove

Service 25: 30 mins

Service 191 / 192: 5 mins

Service 25: 05:41

Service 191 / 192: 05:19

Service 25: 22:45

Service 191 / 192: 03:52

Heaton Chapel is the nearest railway station to the development site; it is located 1.4 km

to the north of the site, an approximate 18-minute walk. The station is manned, and has step-free access at all platforms, accessible ticket machines and ramps for train access, making the station category B2 accessible. Heaton Chapel station also benefits from 25 cycle storage spaces located across Platform 1 and Platform 2. There are 2 DDA compliant parking spaces.

Alternatively, Stockport Rail Station is located some 1.7km south of the site, an

approximate 24-minute walk. The station is manned, and has step-free access at all platforms, accessible ticket

machines and ramps for train access, making the station category A accessible. Stockport station also benefits from 90 sheltered and CCTV secured cycle storage spaces across Platforms 1 – 4.

The nearest accessible bus stops to the site are located along Wellington Road, 60m north (for southbound services) and 180m north (for northbound services) of the site, which are both well within the recommended distance. Both the northbound and southbound stop comprise of a flag, pole, seating shelter, hardcopy timetable information, bus cage markings and raised kerbs. The northbound stop also benefits from a real-time dot-matrix display system, which informs users of upcoming services. Further bus stops are located along Heaton Road, 150m north of the site. Both the eastbound and westbound stop comprise of a flag, pole, and raised kerbs. From Stockport Station, staff / customers can utilise the 192 service from Grand Central (Stop WW) to access the store.

The upkeep and condition of all railway stations and bus stops within the vicinity of the site is to be considered good. As noted above, there is step-free access at both Heaton Chapel and Stockport station, with good walking routes to either station.

Bus stops are of good standard also, with stops along Wellington Road benefitting from flag, pole, seating shelter, hardcopy timetable information, bus cage markings and raised kerbs. Bus stops along Heaton Road also benefit from a flag, pole, and raised kerbs.

Sparthfield Road

Vehicular access to the development will be via a new priority T-junction from Sparthfield

Road. Sparthfield Road is a single carriageway road of approximately 6m wide, has a

30mph speed limit, and runs east-west between a commercial access serving Kingsway

Auto Services and Wellington Road. The site access lies about 50m west of the junction

of Wellington Road / Sparthfield Road.

Wellington Road North

Wellington Road North forms the site’s eastern boundary and links to Sparthfield Road

at a priority T-junction approximately 50m east of the site access.

From here, Wellington Road is a two-way single carriageway road with weekday peak

period dedicated bus lanes operating in both directions. The carriageway measures

approximately 7.5m wide (in each direction), and runs in a broadly north-south

alignment between Manchester (to the north) and Stockport (to the south).

The carriageway is bound by 2m wide street-lit footways along its length. Dropped

kerbs and tactile paving are provided for the safe crossing of pedestrians, where there

are minor junctions.

n/a, Enterprise Car Club operates close to the development site, with their closest vehicle

located on Norbury Street, an approximate 23-minute walk from the site.

Achieve the minimum number of single occupancy car movements to and from the development

Annual monitoring will be completed at the site to confirm the change in user types every year. Where targets are not met, measures will be re-evaluated and biennial surveys will take

place to check take-up of measures, and establish progress against targets. This will

continue for a period to be agreed with SMBC, and will be subject to review every two

years.

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Promote walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing

The TPC will produce a Travel Information Pack detailing walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing, at least 2 weeks prior to store completion. This will include public transport

timetables, maps, car sharing information, route plans etc. to provide to staff

Implement measures in line with staff requirements / interest, including promotion of

national annual events such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

Promote healthy lifestyles and sustainable, vibrant communities, accessible by all.

Reduce reliance upon the car and improving awareness and usage of alternative modes

Promote walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing

Promote walking, cycling, public transport and car sharing

Annual monitoring will be completed at the site to confirm the change in user types every year. Where targets are not met, measures will be re-evaluated and biennial surveys will take

place to check take-up of measures, and establish progress against targets. This will

continue for a period to be agreed with SMBC, and will be subject to review every two

years.

The TPC role, once the store is occupied, will be undertaken by the store manager. A contact name will be provided to the local authority as soon as the post has been filled. The TPC role will be established prior to the opening of the store and will act as the fulcrum for the development of the travel plan measures and the day-to-day operation of the plan. The TPC will act as the main contact for the travel plan and will be responsible for undertaking surveys, implementing measures and monitoring the travel plan. The TPC will exchange contact details with Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council

(SMBC) officers. The TPC will be responsible for setting up and launching the travel plan.

The TPC will get involved in any area-wide travel initiatives, to be advised by SMBC.

The interim TPC can be contacted using the following details:

• Name: Stacey Silverman, Principal Transport Planner, SCP Transport

• Email: Stacey.Silverman@scptransport.co.uk

• Phone: Office - 0161 832 4400 / Direct Dial - 0161 819 7413

As noted above, the Store Manager will take over once the store is occupied

Appropriate funding will be allocated by Lidl GB Ltd, as the operator of the foodstore, at the start of the travel plan process. The funding will cover all costs relating to the TPC, which is typically undertaken by the Store Manager, including implementation of measures and initiatives, marketing of the travel plan along with marketing materials, and

annual monitoring. The funding stream will allow the travel plan to operate for a minimum of five years.

The funding for the travel plan is incorporated into the store’s operating budget and typically allows for up to £3,200 in the first year, and £1,500 per annum for subsequent years, to be spent on travel plan-associated tasks.

To establish the success of the travel plan, an effective monitoring and review process must be agreed. Monitoring will ensure that there is compliance with the travel plan and provide the opportunity for review of targets. Monitoring of the plan is important for the following reasons:

• It demonstrates to SMBC the effectiveness of measures implemented and the

progress being made towards travel plan objectives;

• It justifies the commitment of the TPC and of other resources;

• It maintains support for the travel plan by reporting successes; and

• It helps to identify any deficiencies within the travel plan, including any measures

that are not effective.

The TPC will be responsible for the surveys and will undertake data collection annually(at the same time of year) during the first five years of store operation, for both staff and customers. If targets are not met, further actions will be required, with associated travel surveys also taking place to ensure that the targets are met.

The TPC will undertake a review of the travel plan following monitoring, and produce a monitoring report summarising key findings. The review will be important in identifying achieved milestones in terms of the delivery of measures, the effectiveness of measures implemented, and progress towards achievement of targets, to identify areas where

modifications may be necessary. In particular the following will be assessed:

• The level of car / non-car usage at the site; and

• Comments received from staff and customers.

The TPC will use data collected during the survey to compare the mode share statistics

to the targets set for the development. The TPC may choose to revise the targets, with agreement with the local authority, in order to maintain a realistic travel plan goal.

The TPC will also use spot check data regarding usage of facilities such as cycle and car parking, to investigate the effectiveness of the measures and initiatives being promoted and the contribution they make towards travel plan objectives. The TPC may choose to remove ineffective measures and/or initiatives and implement new measures, in

agreement with SMBC.

The TPC will submit the results of the annual review along with the survey data to SMBCfor their review and discussion, within three months of data collection

The travel plan will be monitored for the first five years of store operation. If targets are not

met, further actions will be required, with associated travel surveys also taking place to

ensure that the targets are met.

Lidl will additionally provide the following supporting infrastructure, associated with the

store development:

• Lidl GB will provide a controlled Toucan crossing of the A6 as part of the

conditioned S278 works.

• Land will be reserved for the future provision by SMBC of a segregated cycle way

along both the Wellington Road and Sparthfield Road frontages.

• Lidl will provide dropped kerbs and tactile paving on either side of the Sparthfield

Road bellmouth with Wellington Road.

Developer (built-out) & SMBC

The developer is responsible for the provision of a controlled Toucan crossing and dropped kerbs and tactile paving on either side of the Sparthfield Road bellmouth with Wellington Road, prior to occupation.

SMBC will be responsible for the retention of land for the future provision by SMBC of a segregated cycle way along both the Wellington Road and Sparthfield Road.

- Delays in delivery due to S278 approval, contractor availability, or design changes.

- Disruption to traffic on a major route (A6) during installation.

- Possible safety risks during construction.

Obtain public transport timetables, maps, car sharing

information, route plans etc. to provide to staff

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Outdated information being provided to staff

- Source reliability

Implement measures in line with staff requirements /

interest, including promotion of national annual events such as

Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

Implement measures in line with staff requirements / interest, including promotion of

national annual events such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Limited staff / customer engagement

- Staff time to produce materials

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Websites no longer become usable / relevant

- Directions to webpages in TIP / noticeboard become outdated

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Implement measures in line with staff requirements / interest, including promotion of

national annual events such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

- Websites no longer become usable / relevant

- Directions to webpages on noticeboard become outdated

- Overcapacity or underuse of cycle storage

- Inadequate storage facilities

- Vandalism / theft

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Cycle to Work Scheme being stopped / paused

- Potential financial burden to staff

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Websites no longer become usable / relevant

- Directions to webpages in TIP / noticeboard become outdated

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Inadequate personal storage

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Limited uptake

- Staff unwilling to change habits

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Staff not willing to engage

- Websites no longer become usable

Six electric vehicle charging bays will also be provided within the car park, one of which will be DDA compliant. Nine will be designated to parent and child standard, and a further six will be DDA compliant car parking spaces.

Dedicated staff parking (13 spaces) will also be provided to the south of the delivery bay

Set up informal car share scheme for staff, if interest

present

Implement measures in line with staff requirements / interest, including promotion of

national annual events such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

- Little interest in car sharing

- Staff with different shift times unable to car share

Liaise with public transport operators to provide feedback

on services and check info is correct

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Staff time

- Information changes frequently

- Source reliability

- Little interest

- Source reliability

Encourage senior staff to consider flexible working /

video-conferencing for meetings.

Consider requests for modified

shift times to align with public transport timetables

Implement measures in line with staff requirements / interest, including promotion of

national annual events such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

- Scheduling conflicts

- Unequal access to technology

Provide and promote any public transport ticket offers to

staff

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Websites no longer become usable / relevant

- Directions to webpages in TIP / noticeboard become outdated

Implement measures in line with staff requirements / interest, including promotion of

national annual events such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Events stopping running around the area

- Limited staff engagement

Encourage senior staff to consider flexible working /

video-conferencing for meetings

- Scheduling conflicts

- Unequal access to technology

Consider requests for modified shift times to align with public

transport timetables

- Change in shift patterns

- Lower / Higher worker ratio during certain times of the day

Lidl will additionally provide the following supporting infrastructure, associated with the

store development:

• Lidl GB will provide a controlled Toucan crossing of the A6 as part of the

conditioned S278 works.

• Land will be reserved for the future provision by SMBC of a segregated cycle way

along both the Wellington Road and Sparthfield Road frontages.

• Lidl will provide dropped kerbs and tactile paving on either side of the Sparthfield

Road bellmouth with Wellington Road.

Developer (built-out) & SMBC

The developer is responsible for the provision of a controlled Toucan crossing and dropped kerbs and tactile paving on either side of the Sparthfield Road bellmouth with Wellington Road, prior to occupation.

SMBC will be responsible for the retention of land for the future provision by SMBC of a segregated cycle way along both the Wellington Road and Sparthfield Road.

- Delays in delivery due to S278 approval, contractor availability, or design changes.

- Disruption to traffic on a major route (A6) during installation.

- Possible safety risks during construction.

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Staff time to produce TIP

- Outdated information

- Source reliability

Issue TIPs to staff, including information on active travel and

public transport

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Staff time to produce TIP

- Outdated information

- Source reliability

- Damage to EV charging infrastructure

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Taxi operators unreliable

- Safety concerns

- Staff / customers may already have a preferred operator they use

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Staff time to produce TIP

- Outdated information

- Source reliability

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Staff time to produce noticeboard

- Outdated information

- Source reliability

Travel surveys are undertaken in order to understand how staff and customers currently travel, how they would like to travel and what would encourage them to make those

changes. Repeat surveys are used to monitor ongoing travel patterns over time. The survey responses provide an indication of what targets would be most appropriate for the development, and which measures would be most successful in helping to achieve them.

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Low response rate

- Targets not being met

- Extended period of monitoring should targets not be met

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Implement measures in line with staff requirements / interest, including promotion of

national annual events such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Little interest / uptake in events

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Implement measures in line with staff requirements / interest, including promotion of

national annual events such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

- Outdated information

- Source reliability

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

Implement measures in line with staff requirements / interest, including promotion of

national annual events such as Bike Week and Walk to Work Week

- Outdated information

- Source reliability

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Outdated information

- Source reliability

- Lack of staff wanting to carshare

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

- Little interest in non-sustainable modes by staff

Procure and produce information to populate TIPs

This Travel Plan develops the measures set out in earlier site Travel Plans and aligns

with the Decision Note for the development, in accordance with Condition 39, which

states:

“The development hereby approved shall not be opened for trade until a travel plan for

the development has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning

Authority and has been brought into operation. The approved travel plan shall be

operated at all times that the development is in operation and shall be reviewed and

updated on an annual basis in accordance with details that shall be outlined in the

approved plan. The travel plan and all updates shall be produced using the online TfGM

Travel Plan Toolkit and in accordance with current national and local best practice

guidance.”

The TP sets out Lidl’s commitment to reducing the number of vehicular trips

generated by the development of a new discount food store at land off Wellington Road,

Heaton Chapel, Stockport.

The proposals include the construction of a Class E discount foodstore with a retail sales

floor area of 1,460m² and 2,207m² of gross internal area. There will be provision for 98

car parking spaces at the site, nine of which will be designated to parent and child

standard, seven will be DDA compliant car parking spaces for Lidl customers only, and six

will be electric vehicle charging bays. Dedicated staff parking (13 spaces) will also be

provided to the south of the delivery bay. In addition, four motorcycle parking spaces will

be provided.

It can be seen that the site has good levels of accessibility by all the main non-car modes of transport. Access

to the site by foot and cycle is of a good standard, and both bus and train connections are also available within close proximity, thereby enabling access to the site from a range of local destinations. The development therefore contributes towards the policy aims of being sustainably located.

Lidl will additionally provide the following supporting infrastructure, associated with the

store development:

• Lidl GB will provide a controlled Toucan crossing of the A6 as part of the

conditioned S278 works.

• Land will be reserved for the future provision by SMBC of a segregated cycle way

along both the Wellington Road and Sparthfield Road frontages.

• Lidl will provide dropped kerbs and tactile paving on either side of the Sparthfield

Road bellmouth with Wellington Road.

A travel plan is an important tool for delivering sustainable access to a development. A retail development comprises a workplace for staff. This development type requires a travel plan which focuses on a single destination, to provide a long-term strategy to positively influence travel patterns in favour of sustainable modes.

Travel plans are dynamic, living documents that should be updated regularly to ensure that the aims and objectives represent the current situation in respect of travel and access. A development-related travel plan will normally be prepared alongside a transport assessment. The plan should then continue to be implemented, for the life of the development.

Travel plans are designed to be flexible to suit individual sites and their individual local characteristics. As such, they should be developed with consideration for the scale of the development and the likely impact on travel behaviour as a result of any potential measures.

As with other retail travel plans, the main emphasis of this travel plan will be on the journeys made by employees as it is difficult to influence the general public, particularly on journeys involving the carriage of heavy or bulky goods.

This TP aligns with both national and local transport policy, in seeking to provide sustainable development with good access to jobs and facilities; to encourage non-car modes of transport; to ensure that the highways impact of new developments is acceptable or mitigated against; and to promote good site design with appropriate

parking levels. As such, it considered that the TP aligns with Condition 39 of the Decision Notice for the development.