Letchworth Site LG1

Site LG1, located on the northern edge of Letchworth, is allocated in the North Hertfordshire Local Plan 2011-2031 for the development of 900 homes, a 2FE primary school, and a new neighbourhood centre that will include retail, community, and medical facilities.

How we helped

Steer has been supporting the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation (LGCHF) since 2016, playing a key role in developing the multi-modal transport access strategy for the site as part of a multidisciplinary project team working on the Strategic Masterplan. Our involvement has included:

• Producing a comprehensive Transport and Accessibility Report, which reviewed existing travel trends, traffic count data, and multi-modal transport conditions. This included conducting active travel zone assessments of over 30 walking and cycling routes, and identifying both opportunities and constraints.
• Sifting potential vehicle access options to identify a suitable vehicular access strategy for the site, including a primary vehicle access from Norton Road and a secondary access from Western Way.
• Undertaking feasibility studies to agree on the most appropriate location for the Norton Road access junction with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) Highways and North Herts Council.
• Preparing a successful submission to the HCC Speed Management Group, resulting in the reduction of the speed limit on Norton Road to 50mph.
• Developing strategies for public transport and active travel modes, and identifying measures to enhance integration with the Grange Estate, Letchworth town centre, railway station, and surrounding destinations.
• Attending public exhibitions, workshops with councils, and Design Review Panels to engage with the community and stakeholders.
• Supporting the development of the Strategic Masterplan report, which encompasses the multi-modal transport and infrastructure context, Movement Framework Plans, proposed transport strategies, and the street hierarchy and typology.

Successes and outcomes

The Strategic Masterplan for LG1 was unanimously approved by North Herts Council members on 11 July 2024. It will now serve as a material consideration for future planning decisions regarding the site, paving the way for the next stages of development.

This project highlights Steer’s expertise in strategic master planning, active travel, and transport integration for new developments.

To learn more about our expertise with strategic master planning, new towns or Garden Cities, contact Martin Hubbard.