Glanville devised a Travel Plan and Transport Statement pivotal in the approval of the Oxford Hindu Temple and Community Centre Project’s (OHTCCP) bid to Oxford City Council.
This follows three years of negotiations with the City Council and a successful bid OHTCCP made when the Court Place Farm went on the open market last year. Alongside providing a place of worship for Hindus, the building would also be used as a social hub for the vulnerable and elderly, as well as for public classes like Yoga and well-being.
Vicky Walsh (Principal Transport Planner – Transport & Highways) worked with OHTCCP to consider the anticipated number and distribution of additional trips by car and how the site could best be managed to avoid the impact on the local highway network during peak hours.
Vicky advised the number of additional car parking spaces that could be accommodated within the site alongside a bike shelter to provide cycle parking in line with Policy M5 of the Local Plan.
Mark Bhagwandin (OHTCCP Trustee and Secretary) was in two minds whether they needed a Transport Statement and Travel Plan when he was submitting a bid for the leasehold of a derelict building belonging to the city council. But once he saw them, he could see how they would be invaluable in securing the bid.
“When these documents were produced by Vicky Walsh and her team, they showed clearly why the establishment of the temple and community centre would not negatively impact on the Marston community,” Mr Bhagwandin says. “They outlined clearly and professionally our commitment to Active Travel and our planned initiatives to ensure there wasn’t an increase of traffic on Marsh Lane as a result of the establishment of the temple and community centre there.”
The technical reports included details of all bus services and the cycling and walking catchments for the site. Glanville’s work lent weight to the proposals from a transport / sustainability perspective and provided an action plan highlighting how visitors will be encouraged to use more sustainable modes of transport to access the site.
Mr Bhagwandin continues, “I understand those reports prepared by Glanville, reassuring the council about the transport impact of our plans, was a major factor in us winning the bid. We are now using them for our planning application.
I am really happy we commissioned Glanville to produce these reports and would totally recommend them”.
