Spotlight on Transport

We know traffic is one of the biggest concerns locally, that’s why transport has been a key focus of our plans from the start. As part of our proposals for East Hemel, we’ll be making a series of improvements to the road network and transport infrastructure around the east of Hemel Hempstead. This will help to address long-standing traffic issues in the area, while also creating new routes and corridors to promote healthy, active travel including cycling, walking and horseriding.

How will East Hemel deal with the traffic it creates?

A range of mitigations have been designed to deal with the increase in people and traffic movements associated with East Hemel.  These include:  

The Strategic Transport Corridor (STC) 

The STC is a tree lined north-south corridor that will run through East Hemel. It will be the main route for travel throughout the site, linking the B487 (Redbourn Road), the A414 and the A4147 (Hemel Hempstead Road), and connecting new neighbourhoods with existing roads. 

The STC will prioritise low carbon forms of travel including walking, cycling and public transport, while also catering for other vehicle movements at low speeds (30mph or less), including cars. It will connect into a wider network of walking and cycling routes across the East Hemel site, linking to other local routes such as the Nickey Line, and complementing the existing rights of way on the site. 

Improvements to A414 and M1 J8  

Within the HGC programme, it’s envisaged that there will be improvements to the A414 Green Lane junction and M1 Junction 8. 

Subject to outline planning approval, early works are likely to include a full rebuild of the A414 / Green Lane roundabout into a large, traffic light-controlled junction, which will be designed to increase capacity. These improvements will also benefit the northbound offslip of the M1.

The upgrades to the A414 / Green Lane roundabout include: creating two right-turn lanes on the northern section of Green Lane; increasing capacity on northbound offslip of the M1; providing more lanes to widen the A414; and adding in dedicated lanes for turning movements to the East Hemel site and existing Maylands area.   

Alongside this, a new active travel bridge will be provided over the A414 (east of Green Lane) to ensure that pedestrians and cyclists can cross safely without using the new junction.

These upgrades are designed to manage traffic more effectively and efficiently and to address a long-standing bottleneck within Hemel Hempstead. 

Quietways

A series of quietways will be formed along the western boundary of the East Hemel site, using existing streets at Cherry Tree Lane, Buncefield Lane and Westwick Row, that are proposed as part of HGC’s Green Loop, as well as along Punchbowl Lane and Hogg End Lane. These routes will have restricted access, with vehicles only allowed for local properties (including agricultural fields) and emergency services.

How will traffic impact be mitigated at Junction 8 and Breakspear Way?

To ensure we’re providing the right road improvements at the right time, we’re proposing a “Monitor and Manage (M&M) Strategy” which allows us to check the traffic impacts of development while it is being built out.  

M&M will apply to at least three main areas, which are:

•  Achieving mode share targets (goals for how people travel);   

• Implementation of transport interventions; and

•  Car parking provision.

Travel behaviour and the performance of the transport system can evolve over time, so flexibility is essential. Through structured monitoring, dynamic management, and stakeholder collaboration, this approach helps promote sustainable, safe, and efficient travel for the local community.

As part of the M&M Strategy, we’ve proposed a Sustainable Transport Strategy, which has also been submitted in the OPA.  This includes measures such as mobility hubs, improved bus services and improved active travel connections alongside a wide range of facilities (schools, shops, employment and leisure facilities) within the site which will enable trips to be undertaken sustainably.  We’re also proposing improvements outside the East Hemel site, which will prioritise the area immediately surrounding the proposed development and key routes where we expect traffic to be focused (Redbourn Road / Link Road and A414). 

If you would like to learn more about our approach to transport, you can view the Transport Assessment as part of the documents submitted with the application.  It can be found in Chapter 10 of the Environmental Statement.