**Document:** APL Applicants Planning Statement of Case **Application:** 22/00596/B — Creation of bus layby with associated bus shelter and formation of field access **Decision:** Permitted **Decision Date:** 2023-04-11 **Parish:** Michael **Document Type:** report / planning_statement **Source:** https://planningportal.im/a/9536-kirk-michael-land-northeast-of/documents/958953 --- # APL Applicants Planning Statement of Case ## Department Of Infrastructure ![A photograph showing a rural road with a bus shelter situated on the side, surrounded by dense green trees and hedges.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117261.jpg) HIGHWAY SERVICES DIVISION Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael - PLANNING STATEMENT OF CASE - Highway Services Department of Infrastructure Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case Document Number: HW3561/SC/001 Author: Blair Acheson Owner: Blair Acheson Status: ISSUE Document Revision Record |Version|Date|Author|Checked|Description| |---|---|---|---|---| |1.0|01/02/22|B Acheson|Redacted|Initial Version| | | | | | | | | | | | | Approvals This document requires the following approvals; |Name|Signature|Title|Date of Issue|Version| |---|---|---|---|---| |Jeff Robinson|Redacted|Highway Services Director|11/05/2022|1| [Table omitted in markdown export] Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case CONTENTS - Chapter 1 – Introduction - 1.0 General - 1.1 Background - Chapter 2 - Why the Improvement is Needed - 2.0 General - 2.1 Objective - Chapter 3 - Planning Policy - 3.0 General - 3.1 Strategic Objectives - 3.2 Social Well-being - 3.3 Quality Environment - 3.4 Sound infrastructure - 3.5 Conclusion - Chapter 4 – Design Standards - 4.0 The Manual for Manx Roads (MfMR) - 4.1 Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Design Guidelines for Bus Stops - Chapter 5 – Evolution of Preferred Design - 5.0 General - 5.1 Consultation - Chapter 6 – Road Safety Audit - 6.0 General Chapter 7 – Overall Scheme Summary - 7.0 General - Appendix A Location Plan - Appendix B Photographs - Appendix C Drawings - Appendix D Road Safety Audit Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case Chapter 1 – Introduction - 1.0 General The purpose of this document is to explain the intended installation of a partial bus layby at the northern end of Kirk Michael village. Its aim is to demonstrate why a partial bus layby would provide value to the community of Kirk Michael and those traveling to and from the village. - 1.1 Background The northern end of Kirk Michael village currently has poor links for public transport users traveling southbound. Whether alighting or disembarking opposite the EVF petrol station there is currently inadequate provision for users, crucially lacking a footway, and consisting of a concrete slab and a shelter, leaving users vulnerable to traffic. The current use of the proposed site is agricultural consisting of a field bounded by a sod bank hedgerow. The hedgerow and vegetation is to be removed and a new field gate access created. The visibility splay contains 13No elm and sycamore trees with hawthorn hedge making up the remaining vegetation. Further detail on the intended vegetation for removal is identified on drawing P002 Arboracultural Assessment. Adjacent to the field in question runs the A3 primary road from Ramsey to Castletown which also forms part of the TT course. The aim of this project is to introduce a partial bus layby opposite the EVF petrol station and replace the vegetation removed. Planting areas will be created adjacent to the bus layby in order to provide an aesthetic appeal to those entering or leaving the village. It will complement the traffic calming scheme currently being carried out in the village. The works include: - • Removal of the existing vegetation - • Removal of the existing sod bank hedge - • Blocking up of an existing field gate access - • Creation of a new field gate access complying with current visibility requirements - • Installation of 1.5m wide planting zones, 1.8m asphalt footway and partial bus layby - • Reinstatement of sod bank hedge and planting of trees a hawthorn hedge Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case Chapter 2 – Why the Improvement is Needed - 2.0 General The current bus shelter is the furthest north within the village of Kirk Michael, the next closest bus stop heading southbound is adjacent to the Tackbox, approximately 450m away. Currently the bus shelter is covered by vegetation either side, restricting visibility. There is evidence from UK bus operators that bus passengers will not travel to a bus stop if they cannot see the stop or the arrival of the bus. Infrastructure wise, the bus shelter does not meet modern standards. The shelter itself is positioned on a slab of concrete, approximate 90mm upstand with no footway provision, and no dropped kerbs on either side of the road. Motorists would likely be unaware of a shelter at this location or the likelihood of someone crossing. Kirk Michael, demographically speaking, contains a large number of elderly residents and several with disabilities. Likely this would mean that they would be vulnerable users of public services and as such the provision of dropped kerbs and a segregated footway to the bus shelter would assist them greatly. - 2.1 Objective The overriding objective of the project is to improve the safety of bus users and residents in order to provide some measure of compliance with the provisions of the equality act. Giving them adequate infrastructure to safely use public transport will assist with this. Additionally, the proposed partial bus layby will enhance the village gateway feature and will also improve the aesthetics on entering the village through planting. Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case Chapter 3 – Planning Policy - 3.0 General This section aims to frame the proposed bus layby in terms of local planning policy and also the wider policy and guidance, illustrating how the proposals align with and help deliver the key objectives of the 2016 Strategic Plan, mainly to maintain and build on the high quality of life enjoyed by the island’s community. - 3.1 Strategic Objectives The objectives by which this Strategic Aim can be fulfilled are grouped by subject; Resources, Environment, Economy, Transport and Communication, and Social. These provide a framework for the formulation and evaluation of land-use policies and standards. The objectives support making the optimum use of existing and planned infrastructure and services, protect, maintain and enhance the built environment, high quality development throughout the Island protect the individual character and identity of settlements and promote urban regeneration. Improved access to buildings, spaces and services for less-able people is critical. The proposals meet the relevant strategic objectives by enhancing the built environment to bring benefit to sustainable forms of transport. The improvements in particular focus on social well-being, quality environment and sound infrastructure. - 3.2 Social Well-being To progress the social well-being of the people of the island. The installation of the proposed bus layby seeks to improve passenger safety and facilitate easier use of public transport at the northern end of Kirk Michael village. This bus layby intends to make access to the shelter easier for all users, but especially those social groups who would have trouble in its current form. - 3.3 Quality Environment To protect and improve the quality of the environment. The proposed partial bus layby and relocation of the field gate access lies outside the conservation area but just within the extents of Kirk Michael village. The site is located within a semi-rural setting and contains 13No. C class trees which are also young. These would need to be removed in addition to a predominantly hawthorn hedge. The proposed partial bus layby will also include the installation of trees and reinstatement of a hedge to maintain its current identity and to mitigate the effects of the vegetation to be removed. Furthermore the layby will provide some open green spaces for low level planting to enhance the biodiversity Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case and public amenity. The planting will be of native wildflowers. The scheme hopes to have no negative effect on the environment and the improved public transport network facility will encourage greater use of a form of environmentally friendly travel. - 3.4 Sound Infrastructure To provide a sound and sufficient physical infrastructure for the island. Passage is possible but it is far from ideal or safe, passengers currently have to wait in the road when using the bus stop and the current situation lacks dropped kerbs, kassell bus stop kerbs, footway provision or any other measures which would be suitable for the less-able to use the current bus shelter. As previously noted, this stop is located 450m away from the next nearest bus stop meaning that difficulties may be encountered by those at the northern end of the village, meaning they might be forced to travel to use a less-ideally positioned stop. The proposals will bring the bus shelter provision up to modern standards by introducing a 1.8m wide segregated footway for user safety, 1.5m of landscaping to enhance the public realm and dropped & Kassel bus stop kerbs for accessibility. - 3.5 Conclusion It is considered that the design of the partial bus layby proposals meet with the relevant planning policies and guidance. The proposals will increase passenger safety by making public transport more accessible, the proposals will have a negligible impact on the environment due to the reinstatement of the hedgerow and planting works included. Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case Chapter 4 – Design Standards - 4.0 The Manual for Manx Roads (MfMR) The MfMR provides guidance to developers, their consultants and design engineers, local authorities, and the public on the ways in which new development can contribute towards the provision of an accessible, safe and sustainable transport network within the Island. It also sets out the framework of advice and standards applied by the Department of Infrastructure for alterations and additions to the highway network. It suggests that: “Improving and establishing more equitable access is critical in the development of our transport infrastructure.” And follows up with “Assumptions that improved transport infrastructure must result in increased vehicle travel speeds and shortened journey times are out-dated. The focus should be instead be on greater accessibility and better connectivity.” By installing this partial bus layby we intend to improve safety for passengers by enhancing the connectivity and accessibility of public transport within this northern end of Kirk Michael village. Primarily, this should assist those with mobility constraints or who would otherwise have trouble accessing the bus shelter in its current location, additionally will provide benefits to all users. It notes: "The underlying theme when designing streets... is catering for movement. The movement framework is important for a number of reasons. It can affect how much people walk or cycle, the level of public transport use, the sustainability of the community and its environment, and quality of life." The proposed partial bus layby will provide environmental benefits by encouraging public transport and aesthetic benefits to the community with planting and the re-instatement of the vegetation that was there previously. This proposed bus layby will complement the existing village gateway feature, motorists, noting the change in environment, will be discouraged from driving faster. - 4.1 Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) Design Guidelines for Bus Stops Bus Vannin emulates the bus layby and shelter guidance provided by TfGM. It recommends a minimum footway width required after the installation of a shelter to be 1.8m, the footway width at the shelter for the Kirk Michael partial bus layby will be slightly greater than this. TfGM indicates a minimum kerb height at bus stops to be 160mm, Bus Vannin requires a greater upstand of 180mm to suit their bus fleet that is in operation. This partial bus layby will comply with the 180mm requirement. It states that “Bus drivers can experience difficulties when pulling out of laybys to re-join the traffic flow. This can cause delays to the bus service and may lead to bunching of busses.” A partial bus layby has been chosen to assist bus drivers in re-joining the traffic flow. Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case - Chapter 5 – Evolution of Preferred Design - 5.0 General The proposed partial bus layby has been developed in accordance with the overarching design principles in that the scheme must: - • Improve passenger safety - • Give increased consideration to the ‘place’ function of streets - • Promote the concept of inclusive environment - • Reflect a user hierarchy - • Promote lower speeds - • Seek to influence driver awareness - 5.1 Consultation An initial presentation of the proposed scheme was given to Kirk Michael Commissioners on Wednesday 2nd June 2021. Discussions were also held with the key stakeholder: • Bus Vannin - Liaisons have been ongoing to ascertain the requirements of a partial bus layby for Bus Vannin, the proposals will satisfy their requirements. - Chapter 6 – Road Safety audit 6.0 General The proposed partial bus layby has been road safety audited to stage 1 &2 by an independent provider. There was found to be no issues with the proposal. See Appendix D for details. Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case Chapter 7 – Overall Scheme Summary 6.0 General The Statement of Case has explained the development of the proposed partial bus layby for the northern end of Kirk Michael village. The proposal provides an opportunity to increase bus passenger safety for those wishing to use this bus stop. The proposal represents a means to combine accessibility with connectivity for pedestrians using public transport. In addition, the partial bus layby will compliment existing traffic calming features to those entering the village, reminding motorised vehicles users of the change in environment as they transition from rural to urban. Through good design the proposals will introduce landscaping areas to complement the reinstatement of hedgerow and tree planting. This will seek to mitigate the loss of vegetation needed for the works. Environmentally sustainable forms of transport should be encouraged and promoted and this proposal should eliminate some of the barriers that hinder people from making that choice. It is considered that the design of the proposed scheme satisfies the relevant planning policies, design guides and best practice guidance. The layout will enhance the character and functionality of Kirk Michael by strengthening a pedestrian link to public transport. It is vital to improve the infrastructure of the islands villages after years of decline and deterioration. The proposal will play a supporting role in improving safety and accessibility for this gateway into this historic village. ![This is a black and white location plan showing a rural area with field boundaries and a road network. A specific section of the road is highlighted in red, indicating the proposed bus layby site.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117262.jpg) Department of Infrastructure September 2021 HW/3561 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael Planning Statement of Case APPENDIX B – PHOTOGRAPHS OF EXISTING SITE ![A photograph showing a rural road with a bus shelter on the left and a field gate on the right, depicting the existing site conditions.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117263.jpg) ![A photograph showing a paved rural road with a bus shelter situated on the grassy verge amidst trees and hedges.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117264.jpg) ![A photograph showing a paved rural road with dense trees and vegetation on both sides and a red sign on the right.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117265.jpg) ![A street-level photograph showing a paved road flanked by dense green hedges and trees, with a red planning notice board visible on the right verge.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117266.jpg) ![A photograph showing a paved rural road with a bus in the distance, flanked by dense trees and hedges on the right side.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117267.jpg) ![A photograph showing a paved rural road lined with dense green hedges and trees under a blue sky.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117268.jpg) ![A street-level photograph showing a bus shelter on the side of a rural road with houses and trees in the background.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117269.jpg) ![A street-level photograph showing a green bus shelter on the left side of a road, with houses and trees in the background.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117270.jpg) ![An existing site plan showing a proposed bus layby along the A2 Fox Road with associated landscaping and field access points.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117271.jpg) ![The image shows a detailed engineering site plan illustrating the proposed layout for a bus layby and field access point, including road markings, visibility splays, and landscaping details.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117272.jpg) ![A technical site plan showing the layout and dimensions of a proposed bus layby and shelter with a compass rose.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117273.jpg) ![A technical specification sheet and title block for a 'Partial Bus Layby General Arrangement' project, featuring engineering notes and the Department of Infrastructure logo.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117274.jpg) ![Technical cross-section drawings showing proposed road layouts, footways, and landscaping details for the Kirk Michael Pedestrian Improvements project.](https://images.planningportal.im/2022/05/117276.jpg) Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case APPENDIX D – Road Safety Audit Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case [Table omitted in markdown export] Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case Department of Infrastructure September 2021 Partial Bus Layby, Kirk Michael __________Planning Statement of Case [Table omitted in markdown export] --- *Data sourced from the Isle of Man public planning register under the [Isle of Man Open Government Licence](https://www.gov.im/about-this-site/open-government-licence/).* *Canonical page: https://planningportal.im/a/9536-kirk-michael-land-northeast-of/documents/958953*