Lidsing Garden Community SPD - Employment Key Principles/Guidance

Support

Representation ID: 1554

Received: 27/01/2026

Respondent: National Highways

We have reviewed the amended wording from the National Highways/ Strategic Road Network perspective, taking into account the wider SPD and our representations on it submitted on 15 December 2025.



Our comments on the amended wording are as follows:



As a matter of policy, given the size and likely form of the employment development, the SPD should demonstrate compliance with NPPF para 114 regarding HGV parking and driver facilities. We suggest SPD para (g) could state


“An integrated approach to parking, servicing and deliveries will be required in order to minimise conflict between different land uses and to make the development safe for all users. Parking for Heavy Goods Vehicles should be designed to be compliant with the requirements of NPPF Paragraph 114 (including provision for overnight parking) and kept separate from key walking and cycling routes and public spaces. The opportunity for delivery and commercial vehicles to be electronically charged on site should be provided.”





As a matter of process, we suggest, for the avoidance of doubt, that the SPD and, in turn, any relevant applications, make it clear that National Highways will need to be engaged with regards any works/development/mitigations in the vicinity of the M2 boundary.


This is because the safeguarding the SRN not only needs to consider the traffic aspects of proposals but also the construction, operation or maintenance of a site adjacent to or in close proximity to the SRN. For example, ensuring:

changes of ground level or structures (eg bunds/ art installations etc) don’t affect the geotechnical integrity of the SRN or create a risk of a structure collapsing into the SRN;
changes to or new drainage infrastructure doesn’t connect to SRN related highways drainage per se nor unacceptably affect SRN related riverine drainage/ nearby land via water flow or quality changes;
boundaries (fencing/vegetation etc) prevent people/ pets etc from straying onto the SRN;
any street or other lighting doesn’t produce glint/ glare/ dazzle / distraction for SRN users.
the implications of particular uses near/ adjacent to the SRN such as sporting facilities are fully taken into account
advertisements per se or in connection with particular users/uses, will not have an unacceptable safety or other impact on the SRN with the assumption that all such advertising will be dealt with separately
any development or the expectations of occupiers does not fetter the future ability of NH to operate, maintain and/or improve the existing SRN

Support noted.
Policies set out in the National Planning Policy Framework including the specific aspect identified in relation to lorry parking will also apply as part of the overall policy framework along with the LPR and SPD, and Officers do not consider it necessary to duplicate wording in the NPPF directly within the SPD.
Officers agree that it will be important to have ongoing engagement with National Highways, and modifications to the SPD have already been included to reference the need for such ongoing engagement and the creation of both a 'Transport Steering Group' and a 'Planning & Infrastructure Delivery Group' to oversee transport and infrastructure matters.