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

ST11.3: Providing Sustainable Transport Infrastructure for Major Development

Major developments should maximise opportunities for sustainable transport, protecting and supporting current and future active and public transport routes.

Cycling and walking infrastructure should be high quality and provide complete routes to key destinations, such as the Town Centre, transport hubs, employment centres, educational or community facilities.

In addition, for each of the following areas, as indicated in Figure 11.3, the principles set out below should be observed and the infrastructure requirements set out in Appendix C be positively supported by major developments, in addition to the safeguarding requirements set out in Policy ST11.2 ‘Protecting and Enhancing Future Public Transport Routes and Watford Junction Station Area as a Transport Hub’.

Transport Improvement Areas and Safeguarded Transport Routes are defined on the Policies Map.

Colne Valley Strategic Development Area

Developments should expect that their transport needs here are met primarily by sustainable transport objectives, and as such should be car-lite. Lower High Street should serve primarily as a sustainable travel corridor, with high quality direct pedestrian access from sites. The provision of an internal travel network that is highly permeable to those who wish to walk or cycle, with direct, high quality links and low traffic streets between the Town Centre, Oxhey, Vicarage Road, Watford General Hospital and Riverwell should be ensured. Bus prioritisation measures should be provided on key access links.

Bushey Arches

Developments should support the ambitions for sustainable transport options around Lower High Street, and also make best use of existing public transport infrastructure, by supporting the delivery of new and significantly improved high quality walking and cycle links to Bushey Station and Arches; overcoming the severance caused by the current highway layout.

St Albans Road

Developments will be expected to support significant improvements to walking and cycling infrastructure along St Albans Road and at the Dome Roundabout, alongside implementation of bus priority measures, mitigating potential junction delays for buses on main thoroughfares and junctions.

Watford Riverwell

Permeability for active travel should be substantially improved, linking to bus stops, Watford General Hospital, Vicarage Road, Stripling Way, Thomas Sawyer Way and Ebury Way, along with the safeguarded disused former Croxley Rail Line. Developments should contribute to bus priority or cycle infrastructure on Vicarage Road and Wiggenhall Road.

Ascot Road

Development should contribute positively towards Ascot Road becoming a sustainable transport corridor through new and significantly enhanced bus priority measures and pedestrian/cycle infrastructure. Improvement to active travel permeability and routes should include significant enhancement to links between Croxley View and Greenhill Crescent, to Tolpits Lane, to the Ebury Way and further east-west routes to the Town Centre.

Town Centre Strategic Development Area

Development should at a minimum be carlite, and car-free should also be considered. Bus priority interventions along, and in the vicinity of, the ring road should be supported. Development should support the delivery of high quality cycle and walking routes across and to the Town Centre, linking to key destinations. Development should contribute to reducing the severance caused by the ring road.

Watford Gateway Strategic Development Area

All major developments will be expected to significantly enhance pedestrian and cycle routes through the Watford Gateway area by providing high quality internal infrastructure and links to the Town Centre, North Watford and towards Bushey. The development of the station as a multi-modal hub should also be supported, including the access requirements for this across all modes.

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