The Site

The site is located just southeast of the M6 and A500 junction.

The A500 forms the northern boundary, Park Lane forms the eastern boundary and the M6 forms the western boundary.

The site is ideally positioned at a key strategic location to provide access to the economies of the North West, the Midlands and Wales.

Key

Draft Masterplan

The draft masterplan has been designed to deliver state-of-the-art employment space that meets the demands of the sector while considering the environment and the local community. The site and masterplan will:

• Secure long-term investment for the local area by taking advantage of the strategic location on the national motorway network.
• Create thousands of jobs through the delivery of up to 2.3 million sq. ft. of industry-leading, highly sustainable employment space.
• Protect and enhance the natural environment through the delivery of extensive landscaping strategy that will involve significant planting throughout the site and result in at least a 10% biodiversity net gain.
• Incorporate a design code that will consider the building’s colour palette to complement the site and to ensure that it blends with the increased landscaping and planting.
• Include a hub building for training and education use by businesses on the park and education partners, as well as potential community use.

Key

Landscaping & Nature

The landscaping scheme for Junction 16, M6 will incorporate a range of green infrastructure features that will encourage a healthy and active lifestyle for the site’s workers and the nearby community. The development will include:

• Enhanced Public Rights of Way (PROWs) and the provision of landscaped paths within the site will combine to create scenic 3km and 5km circular routes for walkers, runners, and cyclists.
• Extensive woodland planting to compliment and enhance the natural landscape surrounding the site.
• A biodiversity net gain of over 10%. This means that the landscaping and planting will encourage an increase of more than 10% in wildlife and habitats than what the site currently provides.
• Enhanced wildlife habitats through woodlands, attenuation ponds and other wildlife enhancement areas.
• Existing habitat and landscape features will be retained, protected and enhanced wherever possible, using a range of specialist techniques.

The proposed landscaping scheme has evolved from earlier iterations of the masterplan to strengthen proposed landscape buffers around the site – in particular the eastern and southern boundaries.

Key

Movement & Transport

The development will be supported by a green travel plan that will identify and promote ways to encourage a range of sustainable transport modes.

Access

Access to the site will be directly from the A500 only. Whilst we do not anticipate those travelling to the site will go through Audley, we will work with Staffordshire County Council to encourage positive behaviour. Examples may be providing guidance about accessing the site and speed reduction/road safety schemes.

Key

Public Transport

Following conversations with local bus operators and Staffordshire County Council (SCC) the development of the site would include a St Modwen funded bus route to improve the public transport provision to the area and the site.

The options include the extension of the Audley to Longton bus route (via Silverdale, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent) or the Audley to Hanley bus route (via Chesterton and Newcastle-under-Lyme), as well as demand responsive services to serve areas outside of the bus service catchments.

Key

The Lorry Park

The development also plans to replace the A500 lorry layby with a dedicated lorry park within the site. The lorry park will include dedicated amenities to meet the needs of lorry drivers before they head back on to the road.

Demand

The demand and need for new lorry parks is well established across the UK because Lorry drivers need to rest at regular intervals and there are laws that mandate the rest period. However, there is a lack of safe and secure parking for drivers to take their required rest which is creating stress for drivers who may then need to parking in inappropriate and inadequate places such as laybys. Laybys do not provide drivers with any facilities or security to ensure that the driver has an adequate rest. The site at Junction 16 is ideally located to meet the needs of lorry drivers as it can serve those using the M6 and A500.

Impact

The design and location of the lorry park would have no impact on site neighbours. Additionally, the provision will improve highway safety and infrastructure as well as provide a better experience for local road users and lorry drivers.

Pedestrian & Cycle

The development will improve connectivity throughout the area by providing attractive and user-friendly cycle routes linking to existing planned routes to encourage sustainable travel.

The cycle routes will connect the site to Audley and Bignall End.