Local Transport Today is the authoritative, independent journal for transport decision makers. Analysis, Comment & News on Transport Policy, Planning, Finance and Delivery since 1989.

Rail stations aren’t always suitable for extra housing

Jonathan Tyler, Passenger Transport Networks, York YO1
22 January 2016
 

Your report on proposed planning rules designed to focus new housing around ‘commuter hubs’ is an interesting and welcome policy initiative (‘Planning rules focus new housing at stations’ LTT 08 Jan). Can I express the hope that they might also be used to discourage building at inappropriate locations?

Developers have cottoned on to the proximity of a station as a brownie point for their proposals, planning authorities regard this with favour because it sounds ‘sustainable’ and Network Rail appears disinclined to be negative. However in at least two cases in East Anglia (Salhouse, on the Norwich-Sheringham line, and Westerfield, near Ipswich, at the junction of the Ipswich-Lowestoft and Ipswich-Felixstowe lines) this has resulted in schemes where the rail service is unlikely to be good enough relative to the road network to attract a significant number of users, where even if it did so the extra users would only be travelling short distances (thus either causing overcrowding or leaving empty seats for many more miles), and where longer-distance travellers would experience extended journey times. 

Dialogue between local authorities and the rail industry needs to be much more honest about what rail is good at and what it is not suitable for.

Head of Fleet Management
Brighton & Hove Council
Hollingdean Depot
£61,050 - £66,734
Deputy Team Leader - Transport Planning
London Borough of Havering
Town Hall, Romford, Essex, RM1 3BB, GB
Grade 9 £51,093 - £55,155 pa
Deputy Team Leader - Transport Planning
London Borough of Havering
Town Hall, Romford, Essex, RM1 3BB, GB
Grade 9 £51,093 - £55,155 pa
View all Vacancies
 
Search
 
1 Linked Articles:
 
 

TransportXtra is part of Landor LINKS

© 2024 TransportXtra | Landor LINKS Ltd | All Rights Reserved

Subscriptions, Magazines & Online Access Enquires
[Frequently Asked Questions]
Email: subs.ltt@landor.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7959

Shop & Accounts Enquires
Email: accounts@landor.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7855

Advertising Sales & Recruitment Enquires
Email: daniel@landor.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7861

Events & Conference Enquires
Email: conferences@landor.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7865

Press Releases & Editorial Enquires
Email: info@transportxtra.com | Tel: +44 (0) 20 7091 7875

Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | Advertise

Web design london by Brainiac Media 2020