Former ATS Garage Redeveloped into New SPAR Convenience Store
Location: Dunmow Road, Bishop's Stortford
Client: A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd (SPAR)
Service: Transport Statement, Servicing Strategy & Swept Path Assessment
Outcome: Planning Permission Granted
Project Overview
DW Transportation was appointed to support a planning application for the redevelopment of a vacant former ATS tyre centre into a new SPAR convenience store on Dunmow Road, Bishop's Stortford. The project formed part of the regeneration of an established commercial site and required a robust transport assessment to demonstrate that the proposed retail use could operate safely without adversely affecting the surrounding highway network.
The Challenge
Changing the use of a commercial site to a convenience store inevitably raises questions from the Highway Authority.
Would customer traffic increase?
Could delivery vehicles safely access and leave the site?
Was sufficient parking available?
Would the proposal create congestion or highway safety problems?
Although the site already benefited from an established vehicular access, the new retail use needed to demonstrate that it could function efficiently while meeting current planning and transport policy requirements.
Our Approach
DW Transportation prepared a proportionate Transport Statement supported by a detailed review of the local highway network, accessibility by walking, cycling and public transport, trip generation, parking provision and servicing arrangements. The commission also included swept path analysis to confirm that delivery vehicles could safely manoeuvre within the constrained site without conflicting with customer parking or the public highway.
Rather than assuming that every customer would represent a completely new vehicle movement, we assessed the proportion of pass-by, diverted and new trips. This demonstrated that many customers would already be travelling along Dunmow Road or within the surrounding area, meaning the actual increase in traffic on the wider network would be modest.
The assessment also highlighted the site's sustainable location, with regular bus services, walking routes and Bishop's Stortford railway station all within easy reach, helping to reduce reliance on private car travel.
The Outcome
The transport evidence demonstrated that the redevelopment would not have an unacceptable impact on highway safety or the local road network. Existing access arrangements could continue to operate effectively, servicing requirements could be accommodated safely and the site was well located to encourage sustainable travel choices.
Planning permission was subsequently granted, allowing the vacant commercial premises to be brought back into productive use as a new SPAR convenience store.
How DW Transportation Added Value
This project demonstrates the importance of producing a proportionate Transport Statement.
Rather than relying on unnecessary modelling or lengthy reports, we focused on the issues that genuinely mattered to the decision-makers:
Safe customer access and parking.
Efficient servicing arrangements.
Realistic assessment of traffic generation.
Sustainable accessibility.
Compliance with national and local transport policy.
The result was a concise, evidence-led assessment that helped unlock the redevelopment of an underused commercial site into a valuable local retail facility.