A self-contained village
Our vision seeks to deliver a much more self-contained and sustainable village.
Initial technical transport analysis has shown that by providing new and improved essential facilities here in Alderholt, there will be much less need for all residents to travel outside of Alderholt by car to work, to shop, see a doctor, go to school or attend a local club.
The new facilities would be within a maximum of 15 minutes walk for everyone in Alderholt. The scheme has been designed to provide high levels of pedestrian / cyclist connectivity, with multiple links into the existing village, enhancing existing routes and providing new connections. A re-routed Ringwood Road would provide a quieter and safer environment for residents living on Ringwood Road and safe access to facilities in the new village centre.
15 minute walking distance
Transport Assessment
Significant transport work has been undertaken to date.
Dudsbury Homes undertook road capacity modelling in 2019 in liaison with Dorset Council. The Council has published a paper which includes our work and is available on the authority’s website. It concludes that the road network can accommodate up to 2,000 new homes without any implications for the network in capacity terms.
Whilst the proposed development will obviously result in an increase in journeys, existing traffic levels are very low and consequently the highway network is underutilised. The current traffic generated from Alderholt does not head in or out in only one direction. Instead the traffic is spread across different routes to access other locations.
Analysis has been undertaken of trip generation and vehicle movements that the development will generate. The number of trips generated will be less than that generated by a purely residential scheme. This is because the provision of services and facilities will result in the need for fewer trips than would otherwise be made as people will be able to draw on the provision of new facilities and amenities within Alderholt.
Resolving pinch points
During our public events we were told that some routes in and out of Alderholt had pinch points. We have therefore reviewed the three key routes out of Alderholt (B3078 west to Cranborne, B3078 east to Fordingbridge and Harbridge Drove south towards A31) to determine whether widening is required for two large vehicles to pass, and if so the specific locations.
This work has been based on Ordnance Survey mapping and mapping of the public highway provided by the highway authorities. The study has shown that widening of the carriageway is deliverable without the need for third party land, subject to review at detailed design stage.
The requirement for these works and specific designs will be confirmed through undertaking a topographical survey (or similar) and such works will likely be secured through a planning condition that would need to be discharged before work starts on building new homes.
Further information regarding any such mitigation will be covered in more detail within the Transport Assessment and drawings that would accompany any future planning application.
A31 improvements
Dudsbury Homes is undertaking detailed and ongoing discussions with National Highways in relation to any improvements that may need to be made to the A31.
Current discussions have indicated the opportunity to signalise the eastbound off-slip and widening to reduce queuing for vehicles trying to come off the A31 and generally turn left and route north towards Alderholt/Verwood.
If such improvements are deemed to be required, this would improve the current situation on the A31 which is forecast to involve increased queuing towards the mainline even before the implementation of the proposed development.
Further information regarding any such mitigation will be subject to scrutiny and review by National Highways and will be covered in more detail within the Transport Assessment that would accompany any future planning application.
A bus service that works for residents
Our discussions with local people have highlighted the lack of sustainable transport options for people currently living in Alderholt.
We will therefore invest and provide an hourly return bus service running to Fordingbridge and Ringwood, six days a week. This service has been agreed with a local provider and would be funded by Dudsbury Homes for the first five years after which time it will be a viable service in its own right. The convenience of an hourly bus service to surrounding settlements will be hugely beneficial to every resident and child of Alderholt.
Masterplan Permeability Study
Vehicle Access
A new road will be provided which provides the spine to the new development linking Hillbury Road to the east with Ringwood Road to the west.
The junction from Hillbury Road will be a roundabout, which has been designed to be of suitable size for buses and cars. It will also act as a traffic calming feature to slow speeds along Hillbury Road as they vehicles enter the village and with the 30mph speed limit will be extended south to include this roundabout improve road safety, amenity and create more of a welcoming gateway feature on the approach to the village from the south.
Redefining Ringwood Road
The existing Ringwood Road to the south east of the new connection with the spine road will become a no-through road, with access to existing properties will be maintained.
Removing the through-route will significantly reduce vehicle movements on Ringwood Road and improve conditions for walking and cycling between the existing and new areas of Alderholt and towards key facilities such as the local entre and recreation ground.
Pedestrian connections in wider village