Agenda item

Strategic Transport Infrastructure Plan

Decision:

(a)  That the concept of the STIP be adopted as the long-term plan for transport infrastructure to support regeneration of the town centre, the emerging Local Plan Spatial Strategy, and the Council’s air quality and climate change policies.

 

(b)  That the significant technical work which had informed the STIP and the relevance of the STIP proposals to ongoing discussions with key town centre landowners and developers be noted.

 

(c)  That the long-term nature of the proposals and the role of the STIP in supporting future bids for funding to deliver those proposals be noted.

 

(d)  That the consultation exercise with stakeholders be endorsed.

Minutes:

The Associate Director Place Operations introduced a report that proposed the Cabinet adopt the concept of a new Strategic Transport Infrastructure Plan (STIP) for Slough.

 

The STIP set out a strategy for enabling growth and regeneration, which was also a key part of the Covid-19 recovery plan.  The high level objectives also included protecting and enhancing the built and natural environment and it was aligned with the Council’s policies on climate change and low emissions.  The transport objectives included reducing the need to travel, promoting sustainable modes and improving access to employment, healthcare and education facilities.  It was recognised that Slough was expected to experience strong growth in the coming years and the emerging Local Plan for 2016-2036 was expected to enable 13,000 new homes and 15,000 new jobs.  It was therefore important that the Council had a clear transport and infrastructure plan in place to enable this growth in a sustainable way.  The key high level proposals were summarised .  The STIP was currently in draft form pending consultation with stakeholders, and the plan would come back to Cabinet later in year following this consultation and the development of business cases.

 

The Cabinet welcomed the overall concept of the STIP and commented that it was an important part of the Council’s strategic approach to enable regeneration and the sustainable growth of the town.  Several major developments were coming though, particularly those set out in the Centre of Slough Regeneration Framework including North West Quadrant and British Land both of which were expected to come through the planning process in due course.  The significant scale of regeneration would have a major impact on travel and the STIP would address this and be a ‘plan for growth’.  One of the key areas for consideration would parking ratios and it was suggested that the Planning Committee be engaged and that the STIP be aligned to planning policies.

 

It was also noted that the report had been considered by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 28th January 2021.  One of the issues that had been raised was the extent of the consultation and it had been clarified that the nature of the STIP was that consultation would be with stakeholders, including developers.  Wider public consultation on the transport policies would take place later in the year as part of the new Local Transport Plan 4.

 

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton asked about the location of the Park & Ride site to the west of the borough, bus services and the need to ensure adequate disabled parking provision.  The Associate Director responded to the points raised and emphasised that the STIP was a high level plan and that accessibility was fundamental to modal shift.

 

At the conclusion of the discussion, the recommendations were agreed.

 

Resolved –

 

(a)  That the concept of the STIP be adopted as the long-term plan for transport infrastructure to support regeneration of the town centre, the emerging Local Plan Spatial Strategy, and the Council’s air quality and climate change policies.

 

(b)  That the significant technical work which had informed the STIP and the relevance of the STIP proposals to ongoing discussions with key town centre landowners and developers be noted.

 

(c)  That the long-term nature of the proposals and the role of the STIP in supporting future bids for funding to deliver those proposals be noted.

 

(d)  That the consultation exercise with stakeholders be endorsed.

Supporting documents: