North East Lincolnshire Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan

Scope

We were appointed by North East Lincolnshire Council to update a draft LCWIP previously produced in 2019 to account for significant changes such as COVID-19 and policy changes, including the council’s Carbon Roadmap. The LCWIP, which was produced in accordance with the recommended six stage process identified in Department for Transport guidance, covered the entire local authority area with a focus on the key urban areas of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham. There was a requirement to consider network upgrades over a ten-year period to 2032; integrated with the timescales of allocated housing and employment sites within the North East Lincolnshire Local Plan (2018).

City Science Response

We closely followed the six-stage process of an LCWIP. In addition to Stage 1 (scoping) our approach included:

• Stage 2 - Evidence Base: We produced a robust and holistic evidence base incorporating policy, the outcomes of a site visit and key data covering the current active travel network and wider environmental and socio-economic context. We supplemented conventional datasets (e.g. Propensity to Cycle) with a consideration of innovative data, such as Strava Metro data, route vibration data from See.Sense cycle sensors, and scheme suggestions from the community based tool WidenMyPath. Using the outcomes of the process, we developed five outcome led objectives aligned with North East Lincolnshire Council policy.

• Stage 3 – Network Planning for Cycling: We developed a series of prioritised cycling desire lines in partnership with North East Lincolnshire Council which we converted into potential future cycle route schemes. Our approach to developing potential scheme concepts integrated the key principles of Local Transport Note 1/20 whilst also accounting for key route constraints. Alongside routes, we also provided a series of complementary cycle measures, such as cycle hire schemes and cycle hubs.

• Stage 4 – Network Planning for Walking: We identified priorities for upgrading walking infrastructure within the identified Core Walking Zones of Grimsby, Cleethorpes and Immingham town centres through consideration of key barriers and funnel routes.

• Stage 5 – Prioritising Cycle Improvements: We developed an appraisal method to prioritise identified future cycle route delivery formed of an effectiveness & needs-based module alongside a deliverability module (including approximate scheme costs). Our appraisal approach followed an innovative and automated process and was underpinned by 20 bespoke metrics to provide an objective, robust and evidence-led method. Using the outcomes of this process, we developed delivery recommendations based on short (2022 – 2024), medium (2024 – 2027), long (2028 – 2032) and very long (2032+) timescales.

• Stage 6 – Integration & Application: We provided a series of recommendations to embed the outcomes of the LCWIP into wider North East Lincolnshire policy, such as their emerging Local Transport Plan and Local Plan. We also identified key route funding opportunities to deliver schemes in future.

Outcomes

We produced a series of technical notes at the conclusion of each LCWIP stage to ensure that North East Lincolnshire Council were able to provide incremental feedback through the process. These technical notes were then consolidated into an accessible LCWIP Report, including a concise Executive Summary to easily disseminate key findings to non-technical stakeholders and local people.

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“Elliot and the whole team at City Science were great to work. They were professional throughout the process and produced a really high quality LCWIP that will help move cycling and walking projects forward here in North East Lincolnshire.”
Anthony Snell, Senior Transport Officer, North East Lincolnshire Council