The Project Manager (Planning Policy) gave a verbal update on the Local Plan Transport Modelling which included a slide presentation on the evidence timetable.  He reported that the sites selected for allocation at the Council meeting on 1 April 2026 had been submitted to Jacobs, the Council’s consultants producing the Transport and Air Quality Modelling for the LP.  The Consultants were also undertaking, an additional optional piece of evidence focusing on Modal Shift Strategy.  Jacobs had been selected due to their joint venture with Kent County Council (KCC) who were producing a Kent-wide Transport Model and had been used by other local authorities resulting in some time and costs savings at the start of the work. 

The Project Manager explained that transport modelling was a complex piece of evidence and could take several months to produce, but Jacobs were making excellent progress and were in the final stages of producing an ‘output’ report which contained forecast data on the impacts on the road network from existing consented development and development that would come forward from the Local Plan.   This work would go on to identify junction hotspots from the proposed development which then would determine what junctions were required for modelling.  The modelling would then inform what recommendations there were for mitigation.

The Project Manager showed a slide of Jacobs proposed work programme, he advised that Jacobs were currently working on the Local Junction Modelling and 16 junctions currently appeared to require re-modelling.    The Project Manager reported that Jacobs would be attending the PTPWG on 30 June 2026 to present their findings to-date.

The Project Manager reported that once Jacobs had highlighted what the recommendations for mitigation would be, they would then commence designing the mitigation which would be an ongoing process and involve strategy stakeholders such as National Highways and KCC.  Jacobs would be running a workshop for statutory stakeholders and other interested parties that Members could attend, date to be confirmed during the Summer.

The Chair invited questions and comments from Members and these included:

·         Would there be an opportunity for all members of the Swale Joint Transportation Board (JTB) to comment on the transport modelling?;

·         referred to Peel Ports reopening a new freight head at Sheerness Docks in a couple of years’ time and the implications of this needed to be considered;

·         aware that officers had been in contact with Network Rail regarding the replacement of the bridge in Crown Quay Lane, Sittingbourne.  There were issues currently at that location including: standing traffic; and pedestrian safety.  Jacobs should look at the pinch-points around the railway bridges when carrying out the modelling.  This needed to be encapsulated in the LP and how it would be dealt with;

·         there would be a presentation from Network Rail at the Swale JTB meeting on 29 June 2026 and all Members could attend;

·         the Swale JTB should discuss transport modelling;

·         requested that the modal shift be grounded in realism;

·         KCC should look at provision of a roundabout at the St Michael’s Road/Crown Quay Lane/Bell Road junction; and

·         there were not enough suitable footpaths alongside traffic light junctions.

The Chair requested that Members of the Swale JTB be invited to attend the transport modelling item at the Extraordinary PTPWG on 30 June 2026 and also attend the proposed workshops.  He would liaise with the officers and potentially the Chair of the Swale JTB to consider if it was appropriate for JTB to receive reports separately on the Local Plan Transport Modelling.

Resolved:

(1)   That the verbal update on the Local Plan Transport Modelling be noted.