Dunton Hills Garden Village

Challenge

Vectos - an SLR company - is engaged by CEG to provide transport advice for the proposed Dunton Hills garden village development, which will provide 4,000 homes on land south of the A127, as well as new schools, health facilities and 2,500 square metres of non-residential floorspace including restaurants, offices and shops. It is set to encompass the Dunton Hills Golf Course and Dunton Hills farm, linking Basildon and Brentwood boroughs near Thurrock.

Solution

Our approach starts with the masterplan. Due to its size, location and design, our mobility strategy can contribute positively to climate change and healthy living while creating an integrated and socially inclusive society.

A key driver of the masterplan has been designing at a walkable and cyclable scale. Clearly legible, permeable and signposted mobility corridors are integral and promote easy and direct access to key hubs.

An important element in promoting sustainable travel choices is the Mobility Hub, prominently located and a focal point for the administration of the Travel Plan and the shared transport initiatives, including Car Club, cycle and electric cycle hire, Community Concierge and micro consolidation.

Away from the site, there will be improvements to local roads and connections to the local railway station as well as a DRT network. The masterplan is currently under consultation.

Microsim: To support the planning application and test various strategies a large microsimulation model was developed by our team. The model captures M25, from Junction 29 to Junction 30, to the west, the A127 (between M25 Junction 29 and the A1245) to the north, and the A13 (from M25 Junction 30 to east of the A13/A1014/B1007) to the south.