APPENDIX D. PERS Assessment

Transcription

1 APPENDIX D PERS Assessment

2 Oval Gas Works Oval and Kennington Development Area (OAKDA), Lambeth Street Audit: Pedestrian Environment Review System (PERS) Audit

3 Contents 1 INTRODUCTION OVERVIEW OF PERS SYSTEM... 2 Pedestrian Environment Review System (PERS) Approach... 2 The Review Process... 3 This PERS Audit ROUTE TO VAUXHALL STATION... 7 Route 1a Vauxhall Station via Kennington Lane... 7 Vauxhall Street... 7 Kennington Lane to Junction with South Lambeth Road Route 1b Vauxhall Station via Harleyford Road Kennington Oval to Vauxhall along Harleyford Road Summary ROUTE TO OVAL STATION Kennington Oval Harleyford Road Summary ROUTE TO KENNINGTON Route 3a Kennington Via Kennington Lane Kennington Lane Cleaver Street/Cleaver Square Kennington Park Road Summary Route 3b Kennington via Montford Place Montford Place Kennington Road Summary Route 3c Kennington Station Via Clayton Street Clayton Street Summary SUMMARY i

4 Figures Figure 1 - Strategic Site Location Plan Figure 2 - Pedestrian Routes Figure 3 - RAG Scores ii

5 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Vectos has been commissioned by Berkeley (Urban Developments) Ltd to provide highway and transport advice with regards to the development of the Masterplan for the Oval and Kennington Development Area (OAKDA). 1.2 The Site s location in respect of the local area is shown in Figure As part of the Transport Statement for the development of the Masterplan, Vectos have undertaken a Pedestrian Environment Review System (PERS) audit of the area surrounding the site to establish the quality of the environment for pedestrians. 1.4 This report describes the execution and outcomes of the PERS assessment. The PERS approach provides a qualitative and quantitative means of describing and valuing the urban realm and pedestrian environment. 1.5 The objective of the PERS audit was: To assess and grade the urban realm and pedestrian environment around the site, particularly taking into account routes to public transport access points to and from the site. 1.6 The PERS audit was undertaken on Tuesday 13th between 08:00-11:00. The assessment area considers the primary walking routes surrounding the development site to local public transport hubs (including Vauxhall, Oval and Kennington Stations). 1.7 The remainder of this report is set out as follows: Overview of the PERS system, its use and capabilities; Summary of the assessment routes; Summary and conclusion. Oval Gas Works 1

6 2 OVERVIEW OF PERS SYSTEM Pedestrian Environment Review System (PERS) Approach 2.1 PERS is a tool that measures the quality of the pedestrian environment through subjective review, and provides an objective measure to pedestrian quality. The auditing process allows for an overall review of pedestrian accessibility to and from a given location. 2.2 TfL has recognised PERS as an appropriate tool to fully evaluate the pedestrian environment. TfL has commissioned a version of PERS specifically for use within London to identify where pedestrian environments require improvements. 2.3 PERS is produced by Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) and is described as: a systematic [computer programme] process designed to assess the quality of the pedestrian environment within a framework that promotes objectivity. 2.4 The review process allows for a wide range of information to be collected and presented in a number of analytical formats suitable for presentation. In principle, PERS reviews the environment from the end-user s perspective, with emphasis placed on the viewpoint of a vulnerable pedestrian. 2.5 Government guidance, Manual for Streets was published in 2007 and updated in September It supersedes Design Bulletin 32 and Places Streets and Movement, and recognises the wider role of streets in creating successful places. It emphasises the need for a better balance between pedestrians and vehicles in the design of lightly trafficked and residential streets. 2.6 The Mayor s Transport Strategy aims to create a connected, safe, convenient and attractive environment that encourages people to walk, making London one of the most walking friendly cities for pedestrians by Provision for walking is essential to the delivery of a sustainable and integrated transport policy, with the overall result of environmental, social and economic health benefits. 2.8 When designing walking schemes and assessing the pedestrian environment, consideration needs to be given to the 5 C s. The London Advisory Planning Committee first introduced the Oval Gas Works 2

7 5C s in 1997 as a basis on which new measures to encourage walking should be developed. The 5C s are: Connected - routes should link origins and destinations; Convenient routes should facilitate the desired journey without undue deviation or difficulty; Conspicuous route design should allow the user to be seen by, and to see, other pedestrians and vehicles to promote personal security and road safety; Coherence routes should be continuous; and Convivial routes should be pleasant to use. 2.9 It is important to engineer routes that provide this experience. The 5C s reflect the fact that all transport users, regardless of mode, wish to make their journeys in the shortest, most convenient manner that is consistent with their personal and road safety and with a pleasant and comfortable journey experience PERS takes into consideration the 5C s above and works on a simple scoring method that breaks down various auditing criteria based on the pedestrian environment. The Review Process 2.11 PERS as an audit tool consists of two parts: Check sheet(s) with accompanying guidance for use in the field to score environments and note comments; and Software that is used to store results and produce presentational outputs The approach that was adopted for the purposes of this study follows that recommended by TRL and summarised in Table 2.1 below. Table 2.1: Approach to PERS Stage Tasks 1. Definition of Study Area The study area is defined on a base map, with all the pedestrian environments identified. 2. On-Street Evaluation The auditor reviews their assigned environment using the summary sheets and scoring guides. Scores and comments are noted down as later inputs to the PERS software. Oval Gas Works 3

8 3. Data Input and Analysis The scores and comments gathered are entered into the PERS software for each environment reviewed. The software assigns each environment and subcriteria an overall score. 4. Display and Review of Outputs The PERS software may be used to generate reports and charts to display all aspects of the auditing data gathered Using this approach, the PERS audit assesses the following parameters within the designated study area: Table 2.2: PERS Typology of the Pedestrian Environment Environment Type Links Crossings Routes Brief Description Any footway, footpath or highway. They can be divided into sections if very long or reviewed in total. Any designated or undesignated crossing where a pedestrian route intersects with a highway. You may choose to include side road junction crossings or not, dependent on the audit taking place. A way that links a trip origin and a trip destination, for example from a public transport interchange to a school. Routes may consist of any number of links and crossings (reviewed separately) but has some characteristics specific to itself PERS can also be used to assess the pedestrian environment at public transport waiting areas, interchange spaces and public spaces This PERS audit looks specifically at routes from the proposed site to bus or rail/underground stations/interchanges. Whilst links and crossings will not be assessed individually, all criteria are taken into account as part of each route Based on such best practice guidance in Manual for Streets and the 5 C s, PERS works on a simple scoring method that breaks down various parameters into a number of sub categories or characteristics. Oval Gas Works 4

9 2.17 Each characteristic is scored on a range from +3 to -3, where +3 is the highest score and -3 the lowest. The PERS software weights the score for each characteristic depending on its deemed importance, to give a final overall score for each environment type. Score Condition -3 Exceptionally poor example or practice -2 Significant problems -1 Minor problems 0 Neutral, neither good nor poor +1 Slightly better than average +2 Very good +3 Exceptionally good example or practice 2.18 Although quantitative methods are used when reviewing pedestrian environments, within PERS much of the auditing is also qualitative, using the judgement of the auditor. This allows the feel of an environment to be gauged and assessed. Surveyors trained and experienced in the use of PERS were used to ensure the pedestrian environment was specifically viewed from the perspective of the end user and those most vulnerable The key to the process relies on the reviewer to: recognise the implications of current conditions for a whole range of users and their needs, bearing in mind the need to give particular consideration to the needs of pedestrians with mobility impairment Once the scores have been inputted into the PERS software, the environment type and each individual characteristic are rated as either Red (poor quality) Amber (satisfactory quality) or Green (good quality) depending on their scores. The rating is also influenced by the observed importance of the route. If a route is deemed to have strategic importance it is rated more harshly than if the route has local importance All routes within this report will be assessed as strategic routes. This PERS Audit 2.22 This PERS audit has assessed the routes from the proposed site to the following destinations. The routes were agreed with TfL: Oval Gas Works 5

10 1a. Vauxhall Underground,National Rail and Bus Station via Kennington Lane; 1b. Vauxhall Underground,National Rail and Bus Station via Harleyford Road; 2. Oval Underground Station; 3a. Kennington Station via Kennington Lane; 3b. Kennington Station via Montford Place and 3c. Kennington Station via Clayton Street Table 2.1 below provides a summary detailing the individual scores for each route for each assessment criteria based on the current/existing site layout. Table 2.1: Summary of results Route Directness Permeability Road Safety Personal Security Legibility Rest Points Quality of the Environment Overall Score 1a b a b c As mentioned in the introduction, each characteristic is scored on a range from -3 to +3, where +3 is the highest score and -3 the lowest. The total score is obtained through the PERS software weighting different categories depending on their deemed importance to the pedestrian environment A summary of each route is provided in the following sections. Oval Gas Works 6

11 3 ROUTE TO VAUXHALL STATION 3.1 Vauxhall Underground and National Rail Station is located approximately 0.6 km to the west of the proposed site at Oval Gas Works. The London Underground operates as part of the Victoria Line whilst the National Rail Station offers services to London Waterloo, Clapham Junction and much of South West London and Surrey. A bus station is also located within the Vauxhall Gyratory, next to the Underground/National Rail Station. Route 1a Vauxhall Station via Kennington Lane Footpaths are generally wide and well maintained; Direct route with no major deviations from the desire line; Legibility and signage to the station could be improved. Environment Quality Rest Points Directness Permeability Road Safety Legibility Personal Security 3.2 The pedestrian route from the Oval Gas Works to Vauxhall Station is shown in Figure 2. From the Gas Works, the route follows Vauxhall Street north to Kennington Lane. From Kennington Lane users travel west to Vauxhall station. 3.3 The pedestrian environment of this route is described below: Vauxhall Street 3.4 Pedestrian footways are provided on both sides of Vauxhall Street. On the footway nearest the site, the footway is quite narrow (less than 1.5 metres wide) and has a number of Oval Gas Works 7

12 obstructions on the footway such as trees, street lighting and street signage which are not always aligned with the kerb edge. Vauxhall Street has no on-street parking (double yellow lines) and has a segregated cycle path (for the most part) leading north towards Kennington Lane. Southbound traffic and bicycle flows are relatively low. 3.5 The footways are level along the majority of the street. However, there are places which appear to have had recent maintenance works, which creates an uneven surface in areas. Vehicle crossovers along the street generally provide an at-grade level surface for pedestrians to transverse the crossover with the exception of the crossover to the south of the site outside the Gasworks Gallery. None of the crossovers on Vauxhall Street provide tactile paving or warning to vulnerable users. 3.6 To the north of the proposed site lies a Tesco Superstore and associated service yard which is accessed by a gated entrance on Vauxhall Street. The vehicle crossover is level and provides a smooth transition for pedestrians crossing. 3.7 The footway north of the service yard entrance is in a poor condition and is neither visually pleasing nor smooth to use. Maintenance could be improved here. Oval Gas Works 8

13 3.8 At the junction of Kennington Lane with Vauxhall Street there is a signalised pedestrian crossing. The crossing provides tactile paving, dropped kerbs, push call buttons and rotating cones to assist visually impaired individuals. The waiting area is sufficient for the pedestrian flow. The visibility at the crossing is good; however maintenance of the road surface could be improved. Oval Gas Works 9

14 Kennington Lane to Junction with South Lambeth Road 3.9 Turning west on Kennington Lane footways have a good effective width with an even and smooth surface. There are clusters of bicycle parking hoops along the route which has the potential to cause conflict between users as cyclists dismount Vehicle crossovers and crossing points at junctions are in good condition with a smooth surface. Tactile paving is provided and there are good visibility sightlines for pedestrians. Oval Gas Works 10

15 3.11 At the signal crossing shown below, there is a cyclist dismount area near cycle parking hoops which has the potential to cause conflict between pedestrians and cyclists. Oval Gas Works 11

16 3.12 There is a large cluster of potential obstacles on the footway just past this pedestrian crossing, these obstacles include; bus stop shelter, electricity service boxes, bicycle parking hoops and street lighting. In the most part, these potential obstacles are well aligned Near to this bus stop there is a vehicle crossover with good provision for pedestrians through the use of a level, smooth surface and tactile paving On approach to the junction with Tyers Street there are wide footways with no major obstacles and a smooth, level surface The informal pedestrian crossing at the junction of Kennington Lane and Tyers Street provides dropped kerbs and tactile paving. However, the type of crossing is inappropriate for the location due to the alignment of the junction and high traffic flows. The informal crossing deviates from the pedestrian desire line, and observations from the audit shows that users are unaware of it, or deem it too unsafe to use due to poor visibility, particularly considering the high traffic volumes. Instead pedestrians appear to cross the junction in two stages, via a central reservation in the middle of Kennington Lane with little storage. Pedestrians cross during gaps in traffic which are infrequent. The crossing can give considerable delay to pedestrian journey times. Oval Gas Works 12

17 3.16 Following the crossing, there are a number of retail/restaurant units. Street signage associated with these have the potential to cause an obstacle to pedestrian movement during busier periods. Oval Gas Works 13

18 3.17 The footways widen past these shops but the surface appears to be prone to drainage issues which can be unpleasant to users The signalised pedestrian crossing at the junction of Harleyford Road with South Lambeth Road has tactile paving, push call buttons, rotating cones, dropped kerbs, good visibility and legibility due to a demarcation of the pedestrian route on the road surface. Oval Gas Works 14

19 3.19 The pedestrian refuge island provides enough storage for users from all directions. There are dropped kerbs, legible signage and tactile paving in place Pedestrians would typically walk through the tunnel towards Vauxhall station. The route is shared with cyclists, which has the potential to result in a user conflict. Oval Gas Works 15

20 3.21 From exiting the tunnel, pedestrians will arrive at Vauxhall station. Route 1b Vauxhall Station via Harleyford Road Footways are generally wide and in good condition, no major deviation from main desire line. Good quality vehicle crossovers which assist all users Environment Quality Rest Points Directness Permeability Road Safety Legibility Personal Security Oval Gas Works 16

21 3.22 This route would potentially serve residents living to the south of the site who seek to use Vauxhall Station. The route takes pedestrians west on Kennington Oval and then north-west on Harleyford Road towards Vauxhall Station At the southern end of Vauxhall Street, at the junction with Kennington Oval, the informal pedestrian crossing has tactile paving and dropped kerbs and good visibility Along Kennington Oval the footway is sufficiently wide for pedestrians to pass with no conflict. Footways in certain areas are in poor condition with cracked slabs. For example, there is an uneven vehicle crossover located just outside St Mark s Church of England Primary School on Kennington Oval. There are a number of potential obstacles on the footway including parking restriction signs, trees and bicycles locked to poles which cause an obstacle for pedestrians. In most places, these are well aligned with the kerb edge. Along Kennington Oval there are no formal crossing points, however the permeability along the link is good due to the low traffic volumes. The legibility of the link could be improved with the provision of wayfinding signage showing the location of Vauxhall Station. Oval Gas Works 17

22 Kennington Oval to Vauxhall along Harleyford Road 3.25 The route from Kennington Oval is a direct route with only a few vehicle crossovers and two pedestrian crossings between the site and Vauxhall station A bus stop and street lighting have the potential to act as an obstacle to pedestrian movement, particularly during busier periods, but conversely, the provision of a bus stop and street lighting increase the security in the area to pedestrians. The footways do offer a good effective width (greater than 1.5 metres) and are in good condition The signalised pedestrian crossing at the junction of Kennington Lane offers road signs, dropped kerbs, push buttons and tactile paving. The crossing has ample storage for pedestrians and good visibility in all directions. Oval Gas Works 18

23 3.28 Pedestrian desire lines are maintained along the route with no major deviation. In places the surface has cobble-like paving surface which may act as a deterrent to certain users Vehicle crossovers are generally level and offer good visibility. There is one example where maintenance could be improved, at a gated entrance to a commercial property. This crossover has no dropped kerbs and an uneven surface. Oval Gas Works 19

24 3.30 From here the pedestrian footway joins Kennington Lane to continue the route to Vauxhall Station. This route has been previously described under Route 1a. Summary 3.31 There are two routes from the site to Vauxhall Station, via Kennington Lane and Harleyford Road. Both routes provide a relatively direct journey to the station using roadside footways of good quality. Legibility could be improved through the provision of additional wayfinding signage. The routes are primarily along residential and commercial streets which have a good level of natural surveillance, street lighting and, in some places, CCTV which would create a sense of security to pedestrians, particularly outside daylight hours. There are a number of rest points along each route. The tunnel at Vauxhall Station is a shared footway between cyclists and pedestrians and there is a shared footway on Kennington Lane for a short section Potential obstacles do exist along both routes. For the most part, these are well aligned with the kerb edge Signalised crossings along both routes are good, offering dropped kerbs, tactile paving, push call buttons, rotating cones, smooth surface and good visibility. However, the informal pedestrian crossing at the junction of Kennington Lane and Tyers Street should be reviewed if possible as visibility is poor and user delay is high. Oval Gas Works 20

25 4 ROUTE TO OVAL STATION Good effective width however maintenance could be improved in places. Legibility could be improved by providing signage to Oval station. Low pedestrian traffic volumes with appropriate crossing provision. Environment Quality Rest Points Directness Permeability Road Safety Legibility Personal Security 4.1 Oval Gas Works is located approximately 0.5km to the north-west of Oval Underground station. Oval London Underground Station is served by both branches (Charing Cross and Bank) of the Northern Line. 4.2 The pedestrian route to Oval Station is shown in Figure 2. From Oval Gas Works, pedestrians will travel south along Vauxhall Street, continue south on Kennington Oval and join Harleyford Street where Oval station is situated. 4.3 The pedestrian environment of this route is described below: Kennington Oval 4.4 Kennington Oval is a residential street that serves a number of estates and terrace homes. Kennington Oval follows the perimeter of Kennington Oval Cricket Grounds. 4.5 From Oval Gas Works, pedestrians will travel south along Vauxhall Street. The footway from the Site to Kennington Oval is sufficiently wide and generally in good condition. There is onstreet parking along Kennington Oval which does limit the permeability of the link, however traffic volumes are low. Oval Gas Works 21

26 4.6 There are a number of vehicle crossovers throughout the link. Maintenance could be improved, and tactile paving should be provided. There are some obstacles on the footway including parking restriction signs, refuse bins and street lighting, although these are generally well aligned with the kerb edge. 4.7 At the junction of Kennington Oval and Clayton Street, the carriageway is wide (approximately 15 metres). However, visibility is excellent meaning pedestrians can cross in confidence. There are dropped kerbs at the junction but the carriageway surface could be improved. Oval Gas Works 22

27 4.8 Wide footways continue along the rest of Kennington Oval. At the junction of Bowling Green Street there are dropped kerbs on the pedestrian desire line, with good legibility and visibility. 4.9 At the approach to the junction of Kennington Oval and Harleyford Road there is a TfL cycle hire station located on-street. The docking station is well positioned on the street, however there is the potential for user conflict during busier periods. Oval Gas Works 23

28 Harleyford Road 4.10 There are wide footways leading towards Oval Station with a large capacity for pedestrian movement. Potential obstacles, such as sus stop shelters, street signage, street lighting and refuse bins are well aligned with the kerb edge. The footway is in good condition with no gradient and has good legibility in the direction of Oval station The environment in the vicinity of Harleyford Road is busy with vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic to and from Oval station and the nearby sports ground in Kennington Park. This busy environment increases the security in the area from passer-by surveillance The signalised pedestrian crossing along Harleyford Road outside Oval station allows pedestrians to cross the road in two phases and offers tactile paving, dropped kerbs, a pedestrian refuge island with no barriers, push call buttons and rotating cones. The phasing requires pedestrians to wait for a short period on the refuge island. Oval Gas Works 24

29 Summary 4.13 The route from the Oval Gas Works site to Oval Underground Station takes pedestrians south along Vauxhall Street and Kennington Oval and then south east on Harleyford Road. The route along Kennington Oval is overlooked by houses creating good natural surveillance and a sense of security, which is aided further by street lighting Surface quality along the route is generally good, although there are isolated areas where maintenance could be improved. Good crossing facilities are provided at Oval station. Oval Gas Works 25

30 5 ROUTE TO KENNINGTON High traffic volumes in places, particularly on Kennington Park Road Wide footways along the key routes to Kennington Underground Station. Good legibility for pedestrians as route benefits from wayfinding and traffic signage. 5.1 Kennington station is approximately 0.9km to the north-east of the proposed site. The Northern Line operates from Kennington and serves both branches via Charing Cross and Bank. Route 3a Kennington Via Kennington Lane Footpaths are generally wide and well maintained; Directness of route is good with no major deviations to the pedestrian desire line. On-street signage to the station is provided through wayfinding and traffic signage. Environment Quality Rest Points Directness Permeability Road Safety Legibility Personal Security 5.2 The pedestrian route to Kennington Station is shown in Figure 2. From Oval Gas Works, pedestrians will travel north on Vauxhall Street before heading east on Kennington Lane and turning south through Cleaver Square which leads directly to Kennington Park Road and Kennington station. 5.3 The Pedestrian environment of this link is described below: Oval Gas Works 26

31 Kennington Lane 5.4 At Vauxhall Street, pedestrians will travel north towards the A3204 Kennington Lane; Vauxhall Street has been previously described under Route 1a. 5.5 The footway on Kennington Lane is wide along the entire link. In the immediate vicinity of the site is a Tesco foodstore which is accessed from Kennington Lane. On the footway outside the superstore, there is a TfL cycle hire scheme in addition to advertising signage, trees, street lighting and a bus stop. These all have the potential to create obstacles to pedestrians, however the footway is wide enough to accommodate them, albeit on a wide footway. 5.6 The entrance to the foodstore is located adjacent to the car park off Kennington Lane. At this car park entrance there is a signalised pedestrian crossing with two pedestrian refuge islands, meaning pedestrians using the crossing have to cross in three phases. The crossing provides dropped kerbs, push call buttons, tactile paving and rotating cones. At either side of the crossing there is sufficient space to store waiting pedestrians and users entering the superstore. Oval Gas Works 27

32 5.7 Pedestrians will continue east along Kennington Lane. Wide footways are consistent along this link and are in good condition. There is a high volume of vehicular traffic and frequent pedestrian usage on this link, along with trees and shrubbery, which gives the user a sense of safety. Vehicle crossovers and crossings are in good condition and offer smooth, level gradients for pedestrians. Oval Gas Works 28

33 5.8 Pedestrian signalised crossing at Windmill Row has tactile paving, dropped kerbs, push call buttons, rotating cones and good legibility. The crossing is aligned with the pedestrian desire line and provides adequate storage for users waiting to cross. 5.9 The signalised crossing at the junction of Kennington Lane and Kennington Road has a pedestrian refuge island and requires users to cross in two phases. The refuge island has adequate storage capacity for pedestrians when waiting to cross. The crossing, on all arms, has dropped kerbs, tactile paving, push call buttons and rotating cones. The crossing from Kennington Lane to the refuge island has a cobbled surface and may be uncomfortable for some individuals. Oval Gas Works 29

34 5.10 Pedestrians will continue east on Kennington Lane to Cleaver Street, leading to Cleaver Square. Cleaver Street/Cleaver Square 5.11 Cleaver Street is a residential and commercial, narrow street with a number of small businesses which would typically attract appointment based customers rather than passing by customers. This means; pedestrian flows are typically low The footways along Cleaver Street are narrow and maintenance could be improved. There are parking restriction signs, parking payment meters and a TfL cycle hire station which has the potential to cause obstructions to the pedestrian desire line. Oval Gas Works 30

35 5.13 Some dropped kerbs along the link could be improved to assist all users, and tactile paving should be provided where appropriate Cleaver Square is a quiet residential square with low pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The narrow footways can become easily congested with refuse bins on collection days. Street lightning, whilst necessary to improve security, does reduce the effective width of the footway on places. Oval Gas Works 31

36 5.15 The permeability of this link is reduced due to the large quantum of on-street parking on both sides of the road, however traffic volumes are low The southern exit from Cleaver Square has bollards and a gate that restricts cars accessing/egressing to Kennington Park Road. However, motorcycles and bicycles can use this access point At the southern end of Cleaver Square, pedestrians will travel in a north easterly direction along Kennington Park Road. Kennington Park Road 5.18 Kennington Park Road provides a direct link to Kennington Station. The footways in place are wide and in good condition. Kennington Park Road is a busy road for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic, which provides natural surveillance to assist the sense of security in the area There is a bus stop shelter, refuse bins, street lighting and trees along the route but they should not act as an obstacle to pedestrians as they are well aligned with the kerb edge. Oval Gas Works 32

37 5.20 There is an at-grade crossing at the junction of Kennings Way and Kennington Park Road that provides tactile paving. There is good visibility at the crossing in addition to good legibility. The crossing is also well aligned with the pedestrian desire line At the signalised crossing outside Kennington station there are dropped kerbs, tactile paving, push call buttons, rotating cones and good visibility in all directions. Users can cross in one phase. Oval Gas Works 33

38 Summary 5.22 The route to Kennington Station takes pedestrians from Vauxhall Street north towards Kennington Lane then east to Cleaver Street, through Cleaver Square, leading to Kennington Park Road and Kennington Station The footways along the route are generally wide and comfortable for pedestrians. There is a sense of security which is assisted by surveillance along the route. The pedestrian environment is made pleasant by the provision of trees and shrubbery, in particular throughout Cleaver Square. The footways are in good condition with the exception of some crossings and dropped kerbs in Cleaver Square that may not provide a comfortable transition for some users The legibility of the route is aided by wayfinding signage in places. Route 3b Kennington via Montford Place Footpaths are generally wide and well maintained; Directness of route is adequate with no major deviations to the pedestrian desire line. On-street signage to the station could be improved to assist legibility. Oval Gas Works 34

39 Environment Quality Rest Points Directness Permeability Road Safety Legibility Personal Security Montford Place 5.25 Montford Place runs in a north-south alignment to the east of the Oval Gas Works. Montford Place continues south then east and connects to Kennington Road which leads to Kennington Park Road and Kennington Station The footways in proximity of the site on Montford Place have a slight sloping gradient. They are wide, however recent maintenance work have left the footway uneven in places. There are a few obstacles to pedestrians such as street lighting, car parking payment meter and parking restriction signs. These are well aligned so should not add to user delay There is a vehicle crossover from the existing Oval Gas Works site that has raised kerbs and an uneven surface that does not provide good accessibility for vulnerable users. Oval Gas Works 35

40 5.28 The southern end of Montford Place adjacent to the site is gated and restricts cars from entering. Motorcycles and bicycles can manoeuvre around this gate. This section of Montford Place experiences low pedestrian and vehicle flows other than trips to residential units. The visibility is good at this T-junction along with the permeability Montford Place continues east towards Kennington Road. The route is surrounded by houses which provide a sense of security to pedestrians and the trees and shrubbery create a Oval Gas Works 36

41 pleasant environment. Footways are wide and are generally in good condition. Maintenance of a vehicle crossover on the corner of Montford Place and Kennington Road could be improved. Kennington Road 5.30 Kennington Road is a busy road for pedestrian and vehicle traffic and has bus stops and bicycle parking located on the footway The footways are wide, in good condition and have a number of rest spots as it leads south towards Kennington Park Road. Oval Gas Works 37

42 5.32 The wide footways provide ample space for pedestrians to pass other users and a number of obstacles, such as trees, bus shelters and cycle parking hoops, without conflict There is an at-grade crossing at the junction of Kennington Road and Bowling Green Street which is in good condition and has good visibility in all directions. Oval Gas Works 38

43 5.34 At the junction of Kennington Park Road and Kennington Road there is a signalised junction which accommodates a large volume of traffic during peak times. The junction provides two pedestrian refuge islands meaning pedestrians cross in three phases. There are dropped kerbs, tactile paving, push call buttons and rotating cones. The junction has good visibility and the legibility of the route is clear. There is adequate storage at all refuge points and on footways for waiting pedestrians Kennington Park Road has wide footways which are generally in good condition. The road has trees along both sides and provides constant surveillance from passers-by and vehicle traffic, which adds to a sense of security. Oval Gas Works 39

44 5.36 The footway is largely obstacle free and user conflict is avoided outside of peak times. There are a few locations where a cluster of obstacles which are not well aligned with the kerb edge may cause conflicts to users, such as bicycle parking hoops, street lighting, a cyclist dismount area and traffic signals. Oval Gas Works 40

45 5.37 At the junction of Kennington Park Road and Ravensdon Street, maintenance of the footway could be improved. The footway has uneven slabs and the dropped kerbs do not provide a smooth transition from street to footway The route continues with wide footways and few obstacles to users. The footway improves in this location. Oval Gas Works 41

46 5.39 The remainder of Kennington Park Road from Cleaver Square has previously been described under Route 3a. Summary 5.40 Footways along Montford Place are suitable for pedestrians. The route is along primarily residential streets meaning it is quiet and pleasant to use. The legibility and permeability of Montford Place is good Along Kennington Road footways have a good effective width and provide rest points for users. The condition of the footways is generally good and the junction with Kennington Park Road accommodates all pedestrians Along Kennington Park Road the footways are also wide and for the most part accommodate pedestrians well. The route is direct and natural surveillance and lighting offer sense of security. Route 3c Kennington Station Via Clayton Street Most direct route for users from the south of the Gas Works site to Kennington Station. Route offers natural surveillance which adds to a sense of personal security. The quality of surfaces could be improved in places. Environment Quality Rest Points Directness Permeability Road Safety Legibility Personal Security Oval Gas Works 42

47 5.43 The pedestrian route is shown in Figure 2. From the Oval Gas Works, pedestrians will travel south along Kennington Oval before travelling east along Clayton Street, south on Kennington Road and then north on Kennington Park Road. Clayton Street 5.44 Clayton Street is a residential street on which Henry Fawcett Primary School is located. There is an informal pedestrian crossing outside the school The footways along Clayton Street show evidence of recent repair work by the multitude of different surface types, which do not provide a consistently smooth surface for users. Vehicle crossovers and crossing points along the link provide dropped kerbs but drainage issues were noticeable during the audit. Oval Gas Works 43

48 5.46 The footway remains largely obstacle free with the exception of parking restriction signs, parking meters and street lighting which are well aligned with the kerb edge At the junction of Kennington Road and Clayton Street there is an at-grade informal pedestrian crossing with good visibility in all directions. Oval Gas Works 44

49 5.48 The remainder of the route along Kennington Road and Kennington Park Road has been previously described under Route 3a and 3b. Summary 5.49 The environment along Clayton Street provides a safe link for pedestrians travelling to Kennington Station via Kennington Park Road. The footways are wide but are in poor condition. Outside of peak times the volume of pedestrians using the footways is low although the primary school has the potential to create a high volume of pedestrian and possibly vehicle traffic in the morning and afternoon Kennington Road and Kennington Park Road provide good facilities for pedestrians with good visibility and legibility along the route. Oval Gas Works 45

50 6 SUMMARY 6.1 Vectos has been commissioned by Berkeley (Urban Developments) Ltd to provide highway and transport advice with regards to the development of the Masterplan for the Oval and Kennington Development Area (OAKDA). 6.2 As part of the Transport Statement for the development of the Masterplan, Vectos have undertaken a Pedestrian Environment Review System (PERS) audit of the area surrounding the site to establish the quality of the environment for pedestrians. 6.3 The pedestrian environment surrounding the Oval Gas Works is good, particularly towards Kennington Station, Kennington Lane and on Kennington Park Road. 6.4 Localised improvements or quick wins could improve the environment for pedestrians. This includes: Improve maintenance of dropped kerbs on crossing points and provide tactile paving where currently not present; Improve maintenance where paving slabs are loose or where cracks are appearing; Review the pedestrian crossing facility at the junction of Kennington Lane and Tyers Street; Align signage with the kerb edge to prevent obstructions on the footway; and Ensure all crossings occur on the pedestrian desire line where possible. 6.5 To conclude, the pedestrian environment surrounding the proposed development site is currently in a good condition, but the provision of some quick wins could allow for improvements in the area. Oval Gas Works 46

51 FIGURES

52 Key Site Berkeley Homes (Central London) Ltd The Oval Gas Works Strategic Site Location Plan NTS SCALES: DRAWN: CHECKED: BB DATE: RR 26/01/15. REVISION: Network Building, 97 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TP Tel: DRAWING REFERENCE: Figure 1

53 Kennington Underground Station Key Site Vauxhall Underground Station 3a 1a 3b Underground Station Route 1 Route 2 Route 3 1b 2 3c Oval Underground Station Berkeley Homes (Central London) Ltd The Oval Gas Works Pedestrian Routes to Public Transport Hubs SCALES: DRAWN: BB CHECKED: NTS RR DATE: 26/01/15 REVISION:. Network Building, 97 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TP Tel: london@vectos.co.uk DRAWING REFERENCE: Figure 2

54 Kennington Underground Station Key Site Vauxhall Underground Station Underground Station Good Quality Route Satisfactory Route Poor Quality Route Oval Underground Station Berkeley Homes (Central London) Ltd The Oval Gas Works Routes RAG Categories and Scores: Existing Situation SCALES: DRAWN: BB CHECKED: NTS RR DATE: 26/01/15 REVISION:. Network Building, 97 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TP Tel: DRAWING REFERENCE: Figure 3