Dorchester Transport & Environment Plan

Buro Happold have worked in Partnership with Dorset County Council and Dorset Engineering Consultancy for over 10 years. During this time they have assisted both parties with transport planning and highway design services. In 2010 Buro Happolds Transport Planners were appointed to develop the Dorcester Transport and Environment Plan. Given the high profile nature of this project and the need for seemless integration of various stakeholders Buro Happold placed a senior member of staff within the offices of Dorset County Council. This strategy proofed to be extremely successful with the final produce being delivered as planned.

Located on the convergence of the A35 trunk road, the A352, A354 and the A37, Dorchester is served by the Waterloo-Weymouth and Weymouth-Bristol railway lines at two stations and is at the centre of the rural bus network.

In recent years traffic in Dorchester has reached record levels experienced before the by-pass was opened.  Residents and visitors faced traffic jams. Pedestrians were channelled onto narrow pavements due to traffic volumes. Market days increased traffic and pedestrian activity even further. The population has risen to 16,000 with expansion taking place at Poundbury to the west of the centre.

Buro Happold were appointed by Dorset County Council to provide the detailed design and implementation of the Dorchester Transport and Environment Plan (DTEP). The Plan is targeted at enhancing the qualities and character of the town through sensitive traffic planning and urban design. The objectives of DTEP are to strengthen connectivity at the centre supporting the local economy, reducing through traffic, providing a quality environment and protecting and enhancing the town’s historic fabric.

Benefits include reduced traffic speeds, prioritised pedestrian access, improved cyclist access and access for elderly and disabled residents and visitors, while maintaining access for emergency, servicing and public transport.  There will be provision for accessible car parking for shoppers, residents and essential users.

At the heart of the plan is the strategic traffic management plan reducing the volume of east-west through traffic to create opportunities to enhance public space in the town centre. A reduction in traffic along High East Street and High West Street will enable the ‘reclamation’ of this historic county town ensuring that listed buildings can be enjoyed and appreciated by the public. Redistributed traffic will use the A35 (T).

A finite budget was allocated to the project. To guarantee delivery, Buro Happold identified three tiers for best usage of materials; high quality within the historic centre cascading outwards to more functional materials on the outskirts. The emphasis throughout was on a simple, uncluttered approach to design which did not distract from high quality historic buildings and facades.

• Population of 16,000
• Plan enhances character and quality of town
• Delivered to a finite budget

Related Disciplines

• Urban development
• Transport
• Highway engineering