Policy information sourced from the Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038

LPRSP12: Sustainable Transport.

1. Working in partnership with Kent County Council, National Highways, infrastructure providers and public transport operators, Maidstone Borough Council will manage any negotiations and agreements regarding schemes for mitigating the impact of development where appropriate on the local and strategic road networks and facilitate the delivery of transport improvements to support the growth proposed by the Local Plan Review. Scheme promoters will be expected to adopt Vision and Validate principles, in accordance with Circular 01/22, within their planning applications and to set out a Monitor and Manage strategy for each site covering all modes of transport.

2. 2. The Integrated Transport Strategy (2017) will be refreshed in the context of the Local Plan Review with the aim of facilitating economic prosperity and improving accessibility across the borough and to Maidstone Town Centre, in order to promote the town as a regionally important transport hub.

3. In doing so, the council and its partners will:

  • Ensure the transport system supports the growth projected by Maidstone’s Local Plan Review and facilitates economic prosperity;
  • Deliver modal shift through managing demand on the transport network through enhanced public transport and walking and cycling improvements;
  • Improve highway network capacity and function at key locations and junctions across the borough;
  • Manage parking provision in the town centre and the wider borough to ensure it is fair and proportionate and supports demand management;
  • Improve transport choice across the borough and seek to influence travel behaviour;
  • Protect and enhance public rights of way;
  • Deliver strategic and public transport links to and from Maidstone, including increased bus service frequency along the radial routes into the town centre and its railway stations, particularly in the morning and evening peak travel times;
  • Work with landowners and public transport operators to secure the provision of a new bus interchange facility that is more accessible, user-friendly and fit for purpose;
  • Work with service providers to improve bus links to the rural service centres and larger villages, and other villages including route options and frequency;
  • Improve strategic links to Maidstone across the county and to wider destinations such as London;
  • Promote inclusive access for all users on the transport network provides;
  • Address the air quality impact of transport; and
  • Support the provision of and improvements to Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure.

4. Within the bus and hackney carriage corridors, as defined on the Policies Map, the council and the highway authority will develop preference measures to improve journey times and reliability and make public transport more attractive, the radial routes into the town centre and in connecting the garden settlements. Such measures will include:

  • Bus priority measures along radial routes including bus prioritisation at junctions;
  • Prioritisation of sustainable transport modes along radial routes; and/or
  • Enhanced waiting and access facilities and information systems for passengers, including people with disabilities.

5. The Infrastructure Delivery Plan will support the implementation of the Local Plan Review and outlines how and when necessary infrastructure schemes will be delivered.

6. In determining planning applications, regard shall be had to the Kent Rights of Way Improvement Plan, and the need to protect and enhance existing Public Rights of Way.

For more information, please visit Maidstone’s Local Plan Maidstone Borough Council Local Plan 2021-2038