Representation by James Willis
- Date submitted
- 30 March 2021
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Representation for the planning application of The London Resort (LRCH) Planning Inspectorate Reference: The proposed creation of the theme park for to be built on the Swanscombe peninsula offers significant economic benefits including an increased and diversified employment offer within an area affected by high levels of deprivation and with few other significant employment opportunities. However for both the immediate area and the wider Thames Estuary, including North Kent and South Essex, to benefit from the opportunities consideration must be given at this stage to providing the necessary transport infrastructure to support the project and to contribute to wider regeneration. It is important that in this regard that both policy aspirations within the NPPF) and the Government’s wider climate change objectives are addressed in the scheme’s approach to achieving sustainable development and promoting a sufficiently robust sustainable transport system in order to avoid environmental issues and to reduce the carbon footprint. Therefore I have evidence that better integrated sustainable transport options, including cross river linkages, could have been identified, assessed and considered, including appropriate opportunities for avoiding and mitigating any adverse effects of the development, and for net environmental gains. The need to address this is underlined by the uncertainties present in much of the traffic modelling work done for the proposal and the limited capacity on the existing rail network, which taken together strengthen the need for robust mitigation Addressing this and the issues noted below will result in a positive impact, in Planning Policy terms Consideration needs to be given to Quality public transport such as proposed cross river tram and to reducing the impact on the biodiversity of the Swanscombe Peninsula, particularly by securing the reduction of the land take required by roads and car parks and cars and particulate pollution from road vehicles by providing an environmentally sound sustainable transport solution. The proposal to utilize Greenhithe station for connection with the North Kent Rail Line rather than Swanscombe station is very disruptive to local residents resulting in significant numbers of late night buses going through residential areas. By using Swanscombe station as a connection node much nearer to the London Resort entrance these issues can be avoided. . The use of ferries from Tilbury as a major form of access may not have been properly thought through for the following reasons: relies significant car journeys to Tilbury with the associated land loss for parking and particulate pollution from road vehicles additionally the ferries could create navigational issues with the existing river traffic. I can see evidence the London Resort application needs to be more aligned with planning policy objectives set out within the NPPF which stress that opportunities for proactive planning should be taken to shape the appropriate scale and location of development and that development should underpinned by sustainable transport solutions where opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport use are identified and pursued. I welcome the opportunity to further engage with the process of the DCO to assist with the discussion of the creation of an integrated sustainable transport system for London Resort and the surrounding area, and to the mitigation of the proposals impact on the community .