Food stores and small supermarkets.

Trips at the Friday evening and Saturday peaks, the capacity of the access and nearby junctions, car park layout and queuing, HGV servicing, and safe walking and cycling routes from surrounding homes.

• Trip generation using TRICS for comparable stores, with pass-by and diverted trips.
• Junction capacity modelling where flows justify it.
• Car park layout, parent and child and accessible bays, and EV charging.
• Swept paths for articulated delivery vehicles.
• A Travel Plan for staff.

Much of a food store’s traffic is already on the road network, either passing the site or diverted from another shop. Showing this properly avoids overstating the effect on junctions.

• A Transport Statement or Assessment with trip generation and distribution.
• Junction assessments where the network is busy.
• Access design with visibility and swept paths for articulated lorries.
• Car park layout, including accessible and parent bays and EV charging.
• A Travel Plan for staff.

A typical case is a discount food store on the edge of a town, replacing a vacant industrial unit. The council asks about Saturday peak traffic and the effect on a nearby roundabout. We use TRICS for comparable stores, allow for pass-by and diverted trips, compare with the existing use, and model the roundabout for the busiest hours. The access is designed for an articulated delivery vehicle with a separate servicing route.

Food stores peak on Friday evenings and Saturdays, often at different times from the commuter peaks. Trip rates should match the type of store, because a discount store and a large supermarket behave differently. Where junction modelling is needed, we agree the junctions and peak hours with the highway authority at scoping. Servicing yards need space for articulated lorries to turn and reverse onto the dock without crossing customer areas.

Concerns usually relate to junction capacity at peak times, the access design and HGV servicing. Agreeing the assessment scope early, including which junctions to model and which peak hours to use, avoids most later disputes.

Where modelling results are questioned, we review the inputs with the highway authority and test sensitivity cases. If needed, we support an appeal.

We scope and prepare the Transport Assessment, model the junctions where needed, and design the access and servicing arrangements.

The same questions arise in Scotland and Wales, where they are assessed against NPF4 and Scottish guidance or Planning Policy Wales and TAN 18 rather than the NPPF.

To get a quote, send us:

• The site address or a location plan.
• The proposed floor area, car park size and operator, if known.
• Any scoping or pre-application comments from the highway authority.
• Any pre-application advice or highways comments you already have.