Policy information sourced from the Watford Local Plan 2021-2038.

ST11.2: Protecting and Enhancing Future Public Transport Routes and Watford Junction Station Area as a Transport Hub

To prevent development that would compromise future mass transit, bus prioritisation, walking and cycling infrastructure, set out in either the South West Hertfordshire Growth and Transport Plan, the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan or Watford’s Sustainable Transport Strategy, developers will need to have regard to the following Safeguarded Transport Routes to ensure designs would not compromise their ability to prioritise public transport and active travel routes:

  • The disused former Croxley Rail Line, including access points and routes on the existing road network, as set out in the Croxley Line – Safeguarding for Mass Rapid Transit Technical Report;
  • The current Ebury Way cycle path and access to it; and
  • The Abbey Line.

Additionally, proposals should have regard to:

  • Existing and planned cycle routes identified in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan; and
  • Any future planned Mass Rapid Transit routes identified by Hertfordshire County Council.

The Safeguarded Transport Routes are identified on the Policies Map and represented in Figure 11.3.

The role of Watford Junction as a multi-modal Sustainable Transport Hub should be preserved, meaning that development must not hinder the provision of the following on site and cross boundary infrastructure;

  • New pedestrian/cycle bridges over the West Coast Main Line and Abbey Line and connecting Penn Road with Colonial Way, plus access to these from the existing and new road networks;
  • Bus and rail access that also provides for the use of cycles, electric vehicles, drop-off movements, taxis, coaches and any future Mass Rapid Transit access;
  • Pedestrian and cycling access from Colonial Way (or Imperial Way as part of a comprehensive redevelopment of the area) that will provide a connection to the Eastern Mobility Hub and access to the station and not compromise potential re-routing of vehicle access to the concrete batching plant and rail aggregates depot; and
  • Upgrading of the bus station and bus priority improvements to roads in the vicinity of the station.

For more information, please see the Watford Local Plan 2021-2038.