Movement
The site benefits from strong existing transport connections, with direct access to the A38 and proximity to Junction 23 of the M5, as well as existing pedestrian, cycle and public transport links.
Bus stops are located adjacent to the site on the A38 Bristol Road providing services every 30 minutes, including to Taunton, Bridgwater, Pawlett, Highbridge and Burnham-on-Sea. Further bus stops in Puriton provide services to Bristol, Weston-Super-Mare, and Axbridge.
Bridgwater Train Station provides a mainline train route to Exeter and Bristol and beyond.
Vehicle Movement
Vehicular access to the site is proposed off A38 Bristol Road via a new priority-controlled (give-way) T-junction.
We recognise that development will inevitably have an impact on existing infrastructure and will be undertaking comprehensive assessments of the development’s traffic and travel patterns, and are committed to positively managing the movement of people to ensure that any changes that may be required to the local highways are minimised.
We are in the process of agreeing the methodology for extensive traffic surveys of existing roads with Somerset Council and National Highways. Once this has been undertaken, a vision-led planning approach will be used to estimate the potential traffic generation of the site and to assess its future effect on the surrounding roads and junctions. This assessment will help to identify the need for mitigation and if there are any locations where improvements are required.
Initial work indicates that the development is expected to generate approximately 200 vehicle movements (comprising arrivals and departures) during each of the peak hours. Most of these trips are expected to travel via Dunball Roundabout, where significant improvements have recently been built, including pedestrian and cycling improvements, signalising the roundabout and introducing a new ‘through-about’ lane, all of which will further increase the capacity, traffic flow and accessibility of this key route.
These improvements, alongside the site’s sustainable location and access to non-car travel options, will help ensure that the development can be accommodated without unacceptable impacts on the local highway network.