Green Travel
The sustainable location of the site, which is accessible on foot and by bike from the existing GSK campus and Stevenage train station, provides an opportunity to significantly improve and promote active travel across the new campus.
Reef has been working with Stevenage Borough Council to improve sustainable travel methods, and several initiatives are being proposed, including:
- A mobility hub area (including EV bike charging)
- Cycle initiatives: cycle to work scheme, cycle parking and facilities, cycle links
- Bike/E-bike/E-scooter hire schemes
- Public bus connections including an on-site bus stop and bus lane
- Site shuttle bus
- Car sharing
- Digital Demand Responsive Transport, providing flexible on-demand bus services
- Sustainable travel information and engagement
Sustainable travel initiatives - click to enlarge
Promoting active travel
Pedestrian and cyclist access to the site will be provided via the existing A602 underpass, with new routes directing them to the arrival plaza to access the larger site. Improvements to the underpass network's attractiveness, lighting, and signage are also proposed.
Raised table crossings will be implemented throughout the site to provide safe access for pedestrians and cyclists, and a site-wide speed limit of 20mph will be implemented. The proposed development will also include on-site facilities for public bus services to divert into the site, providing employees and visitors with direct access between the site and Stevenage town centre and station.
Approximately 389 bike storage spaces, as well as a cycle hire facility, will be provided across campus, as illustrated below.
Pedestrian and cyclist approach - click to enlarge
Access
A new gyratory junction configuration is proposed, which will reconfigure the existing A602/Gunnels Wood Road roundabout to provide access to the site. All vehicles will enter the site via the new gyratory and directly from Junction 7 of the A1(M).
Initial assessments indicate that the roundabout junction is currently constrained and will be unable to accommodate expected growth by 2031 (with the exclusion of the proposed development). The proposed junction improvements will therefore significantly reduce current peak-period congestion from all arms of the junction and provide a major improvement to the current roundabout arrangement, for both the proposed development and wider area.
The proposed gyratory will be provided in the form of a signalised junction to reduce delays and provide sufficient capacity to join the junction. The right turn movements from the A1(M) to the site will be removed, and the site will be served by an improved direct access from Junction 7 of the A1 (M). To encourage sustainable travel, a dedicated bus lane will be provided leaving the site, and a bus gate may be installed on Gunnels Wood Road North in the future. The general traffic, local public bus service, and the site's own shuttle bus will all benefit from reduced queuing, which will improve reliability.
A detailed Construction Traffic Management Plan will be prepared to detail how construction traffic will access and leave the site, as well as how temporary traffic measures will be implemented while the new gyratory junction is being built.
Vehicular approach - click to enlarge
Parking
While employees will be encouraged to take advantage of the numerous active transportation options available, it is recognised that such options may not always be suitable for individuals who work during evening hours or commute from afar.
Parking will be provided around the perimeter of the site in three multi-storey car parks.
The detailed planning application for phase 1 would provide approximately 465 car and 25 motorcycle spaces over 6.5 storeys, in line with policy guidelines.
