Policy information sourced from the Dartford Development Policies Plan
DP4: Transport Access and Design
Development should be of a design and layout to promote walking, cycling and public transport use through provision of attractive and safe routes which address the needs of users, otherwise development will not be permitted. Proposals should include appropriate vehicular access arrangements to the new development. Guidance set out in Manual for Streets, or any future equivalent, should also be applied (bespoke access and transport approaches may be agreed at large regeneration sites, where forming a suitable alternative).
Development will only be permitted where in line with principles in clause 1, and where appropriate proposals ensure:
- Provision is made for safe and convenient access to footpaths and cycle routes, with public rights of way protected including, where opportunities exist, delivering new or enhancing existing routes between key facilities/ that link to the wider highways and green grid network; and linkages to existing neighbourhoods.
- Provision is made for public transport and taxis, especially at trip generating destinations and other significant scale developments, where layouts must allow penetration of routes to make community services easily accessible to all users, and feasible and efficient to operate. Services such as Fastrack should be enhanced through development that secures new network links through the site.
- Opportunities to promote enhanced movement and environments on and alongside rivers are maximised in developments.
- Facilities are provided as appropriate for people with disabilities, especially at road crossing points, public transport stops and changes in level on walking routes.
- The layout and siting of access is acceptable in terms of residential amenity, highway capacity and safety, free flow of traffic, cyclists and pedestrians, and visual impact.
- Provision is made for loading, unloading and the turning of service vehicles ensuring highway and pedestrian safety.
- The extent and nature of proposed car parking provision, taking into account any existing provision as relevant to the development, must be in full accordance with the adopted Parking Standards SPD.
- The conversion of front gardens for car parking (where a planning application required) must include provision of a vehicle crossover and only be where the garden is capable of accommodating a parking space in accordance with the parking bay minimum standards set out in the Parking Standards SPD, and with unobstructed pedestrian access to the dwelling. New car parking should, where appropriate, make use of permeable paving materials, in line with the SPD.
For more information please see the Development Policies Plan