Highways advice to go
Planning consent has been granted for a new drive-thru unit within the thriving West Thurrock Retail Park. Designed by RGP Architects, the drive-thru is close to junction 31 of the M25 and will form part of the largest retail cluster in the UK. Motion supported DTZ Investors with transport planning expertise, and delivery and servicing advice.
The team completed traffic surveys and trip generation analysis, and assessed the capacity of the drive-thru lane to ensure that queuing cars would not impact on the operation of the car park or extend to the public highway. According to Rory Leggett, Project Manager at Redbourn Group, “Motion’s assistance with adapting the car park to make it work was key to securing planning approval.”
Servicing access
The proposals will result in the reconfiguration of a section of the car park to accommodate the unit and facilitate delivery vehicle access. Motion demonstrated that there was sufficient car parking to appropriately serve the café, drive-thru and the wider retail park. Swept path analysis was undertaken and adjustments made to the layout of the car park to allow space for the manoeuvre of delivery and servicing vehicles. Provision has also been made for a delivery service operating from the unit, with two dedicated home delivery bays adjacent to the café.
Sustainability impact:
- The creation of two new EV charging spaces
- Provision of 12 cycle parking spaces
- Good access to the site by foot, bicycle and public transport
Image credit: © RGP Architects
An abridged version of this article first appeared in Issue 25 of Insight
