Welcome
We have set up this webpage specifically to engage with the residents of Biggleswade and to get your valuable input to shape our thinking about the potential for a ‘Sustainable Transport Corridor’. This webpage explains the proposal in more detail and includes a number of options that are being explored.
Overview
East of Biggleswade Garden Village was included in Homes England’s Garden Communities Programme in 2019, with 1,500 new homes currently approved for development.
CBC and our partners Homes England and Biggleswade Town Council are exploring options for a Sustainable Transport Corridor (STC) to connect existing and new communities in eastern Biggleswade with key destinations in town such as the High Street, the train station and new transport interchange as well as providing access to the new facilities and open spaces developed as part of East of Biggleswade.
CBC and our partners recognise the potential impact of this growth on the local transport networks. We are using the Sustainable Transport Corridor as a pilot project to test new approaches to our streets and how we move around, giving more choices for travel beyond the use of cars. The project seeks to reduce car use to improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing for all its communities and also to meet climate change commitments.
Improving health and wellbeing – High quality places that promote active travel can increase our emotional wellbeing and satisfaction, increase our energy levels and make people happier, reducing anger, anxiety, stress, and fear. Daily activity through walking and cycling have also been shown to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes by 35-50%, heart disease by 20-35% and death by 20-35% (source: Department of Health, 2011).
Supporting local communities – By making it easier to move around, improving the options available and catering for a wider range of needs, the Sustainable Transport Corridor will provide more opportunities for people to socialise, making the corridor busier and more attractive to be in. Improving high streets for walking and cycling led to a 216% increase in people stopping, sitting or socialising in London (source: Carmona et al. 2018).
Supporting the local economy – It has been demonstrated that people who walk or cycle spend more in the local community. This would benefit the town centre and support the success of existing and new local businesses. Over a month, people who walk to the high street spend up to 40% more than people who drive to the high street (source: TfL, 2013).
Addressing climate change - At a national level, the transport sector is the highest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions – changing journeys under 3 miles can make a big difference. Improving choices for people to travel by walking, cycling and public transport reduces CO2 emissions, improves air quality, and reduces noise pollution, creating a more enjoyable environment to be in. For example, people who cycle have 84% lower CO2 emissions from all daily travel than non-cyclists (source: University of Oxford’s Transport Studies Unit, 2021)
Reducing local traffic congestion - This will provide opportunities for improving movement between new development to the east of Biggleswade and the town; reduce vehicle traffic; give better and more attractive opportunities for walking, cycling, scootering and taking the bus, as well as better access to green space and nature.
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About this engagement
The purpose of this engagement is to hear your views on a ‘Sustainable Transport Corridor’(STC) and what benefits you think this might bring to Biggleswade.
An online survey was set up for local residents, community groups and businesses to provide their comments on the future of the Sustainable Transport Corridor and was open until 8th April, it is now closed.
All comments received through this engagement page and through the conversations in Biggleswade will be collected and written into a summary report. This will then inform the future and potential design options for the Sustainable Transport Corridor.
