Transport for Greater Manchester’s Cycle City Ambition Grant: Colleges and Schools

Cycle Access Improvements

Design and Access Statement - April 2015

Contents

1. Introduction

2. Description of works

3. Location

4. Existing use

5. Layout

6. Design

7. Access

8. Environmental sustainability

9. Drawings references

1. Introduction

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has secured £20 million of Cycle City Ambition Grant

(CCAG) funding from the Department for Transport to support Greater Manchester’s ambitious

Vélocity 2025 strategy. One of the four strands of CCAG is the Partner School/College Programme

which looks to work with schools, including The Kingsway School, to implement a range of capital

and revenue interventions to encourage cycling.

TfGM have worked with The Kingsway School to identify a tailored package of interventions that will improve the quality and increase the quantity of cycle parking. This document provides supplementary evidence in support of the planning application for proposals to enhance provision for cyclists the school.

2. Description of works

It is proposed that a central courtyard on the Broadway Campus, currently an uncovered landscaped

area, will be converted to a central cycle hub providing high quality provision for staff and student

cyclists in a safe, secure and attractive environment.

3. Location

Located in Cheadle, Stockport, The Kingsway School has two campuses (Foxland and Broadway)

either side of the A34. The proposed cycle hub would be located within an existing central courtyard

on the Broadway Campus (to the east of the A34). The site is almost fully enclosed by existing

buildings that surround the courtyard.

The proposed location of the cycle hub is highlighted in our location plan shown in Figure 1. A copy

of the Location Plan has also been submitted with the planning application (DW 00001.v1)

Figure 1: Location Plan

4. Existing use

The site is currently a central courtyard within a secondary school. The courtyard is not actively used

although it is landscaped.

Photo 1: Aerial Photograph of Broadway Campus

The existing landscaping is demonstrated in the above aerial photograph and following photographs

demonstrating the existing use.

The following photos were taken of the internal courtyard in summer 2014.

Proposed Location

Photo 2: Looking from the main entrance in a south easterly direction – NB landscaping will be

preserved where possible

Photo 3: Looking towards the main entrance (to the west)

Photo 4: Looking from the main entrance to the south

Photo 5: Looking from the main entrance to the east

5. Layout

TfGM have worked with the school to identify a tailored package of interventions that will improve the quality and increase the quantity of cycle parking.

It is proposed that the central courtyard will be converted to a central cycle hub providing high

quality provision for staff and student cyclists in a safe, secure and attractive environment. The

following measures are proposed to be included in the central courtyard.

20 single and 20 double cycle lockers for students and 20 single cycle lockers for staff.

A bespoke canopy covering the cycle lockers but excluding a central area that will remain

uncovered to provide a central landscaping feature.

Additional benches.

The proposed layout of the canopy and lockers is demonstrated in Figure 2: Site Plan and Figure 3:

Site Plan Dimensions.

The total area of the courtyard that is affected by this planning application is: 400 Sq. metres.

The only section of the structure that will be visible from outside of the school premises will be the

canopy covering the access route from the gate to the courtyard. The structure will also be largely

shielded by the access gate therefore, the new structure will result in any significant visual intrusion

for neighbouring property (refer to elevation drawing DWG 00005 – Existing and Proposed Entrance

Elevations 1-50 Scale).

Figure 2: Site Plan for proposed cycle compound (Kingsway School Broadway campus )

Figure 3: Site Plan Dimensions

6. Design and Construction

Canopy

The proposed canopy and panels would largely cover the courtyard, excluding the central

landscaping feature and fire escape. The following specification is proposed:

Galvanised steelwork frame (polyester powder coating);

150mm x 150mm square support legs;

150mm x 100mm main roof rafters;

100mm x 60mm intermediate roof rafters and eaves ties;

90mm x 50mm gutter support bars;

60mm x 60mm roof poly support bars;

Aluminium fixing straps;

16mm thick UV Multiwall Roof (Polycarbonate);

All bolts are either stainless steel or galvanised and will come with white bolt caps;

Guttering System; and

Includes Polyester Powder Coating – Choice of 14 Standard colours.

An indicative visual of the canopy and lockers in situ is provided below demonstrating the areas that

will be covered by the canopy.

Figure 4: Indicative visual (not actual colour)

Elevation drawings have also been included as part of the planning application demonstrating the

relationship of the proposed structure to existing buildings. The following elevation drawings

accompany the planning application and this design and access statement.

DWG 00003 – Existing Elevation

DWG 00004 – Proposed Elevations_A1

DWG 00005 – Entrance Elevations

Lockers

It is proposed that bicycles will be stored in horizontal lockers that will be laid out to maximise

potential storage within the central courtyard. 40 Single Lockers (750mm wide x 1850mm long and

height 1280mm) and 20 Double Lockers are proposed. The specification of the lockers is described

below:

Galvanising Body and Powder Coated Door

2 Point Locking Mechanism – users own lock

Stainless Steel floor plates (point of floor contact)

Single Door Skin.

Solid door, sides and back

All Locker sides, backs and door are raised from ground level by 40mm to prevent litter build up and therefore reducing maintenance costs and health risks

Each Locker is a complete individual unit, allowing them to installed as a bank, but with the benefit of being able to remove and relocate without the need of ordering extra side panels

An example of a row of the proposed cycle lockers is shown below.

Ground Works and Construction

The canopy will be supported by concrete pockets for all Canopy Legs (800mm x800mm x 800mm).

Site pockets will be cut to required measurements, and canopy legs installed and backfilled tamp,

and trowel with C35 concrete. Lockers will be delivered and installed onto pre prepared concrete

foundations

In addition to the foundations, the following ground works are proposed:

Removal of smaller Trees – large central tree to remain

Excavation and levelling of whole area

Retaining wall to the right hand side as you walk into quadrangle

Bark including 100mm sub foundation including team sheeting entire area.

Raised flower beds feature in centre of area.

Underground drainage system to pick up rain water from canopies and disperse into existing drains on site.

Cutting down of large trees in centre to approximately 2 feet high.

7. Access

As demonstrated in Figure 2, access to the cycle parking would be via the main vehicular entrance

accessed from High Grove Road.

External access to the courtyard is via a gated passageway which is currently locked at all times.

There are two pedestrian accesses onto the courtyard from the main school buildings (currently

locked) and the courtyard also serves as an emergency exit from the sports hall.

It is proposed that access to the cycle parking compound will be restricted outside of school opening

and closing times to maintain high levels of security for cyclists.

8. Environmental sustainability

Enhancing cycle parking facilities will encourage greater numbers of staff and students to cycle to

the school. This will have a positive impact on carbon emissions as a result of mode transfer from

trips via car.

The structure of the canopy is predominantly of steel construction and hence easily recyclable.

Materials have been specified to be durable and low maintenance to reduce lifetime impact. Use of

concrete has been limited to concrete pockets for canopy legs.

Where possible landscaping has been maintained including the maintenance of the central feature

tree (although this will be trimmed back) and addition of raised flower beds. The installation of the

canopy will however, require the removal of a number of existing trees that are located around the

perimeter of the quadrant. The trees that will be removed from the courtyard are demonstrated in

Figure 5 and Figure 6.

Figure 5: Proposed removal of vegetation in central courtyard

Figure 6: Identification of vegetation to be removed

Looking south from the entrance to the courtyard

Looking south from the top of the sports hall fire escape

Looking south east from the bottom of the sports hall fire escape

Looking east from the entrance to the courtyard

9. Drawings references

The following drawings accompany this design and access statement.

DWG 00001 – Location Plan

DWG 00002 – Site Plan

DWG 00003 – Existing Elevation

DWG 00004 – Proposed Elevations_A1

DWG 00005 – Elevations 1-50 Scale