The site is located alongside the A27 Southampton Road, close to M27 Junction 9 and the busy St Margaret’s Roundabout.

Its triangular layout, level differences, established hedgerows and trees, existing junction arrangements and land ownership constraints created several technical challenges.

Mayer Brown was required to:

• Develop a safe and appropriate access strategy that responded to both on-site and off-site constraints
• Facilitate sustainable access, whilst also ensuring sufficient operational parking provision.
• Demonstrating that associated residual cumulative traffic impacts would not be severe.

Mayer Brown’s commission included the preparation of a Transport Assessment and Travel Plan alongside preliminary flood risk and drainage design services. The team also provided ongoing technical support throughout the planning consultation process, responding to comments raised by the relevant consultees.

Mayer Brown worked closely with Lidl and the wider project team from the feasibility stage, helping to shape the access strategy and site layout around the site’s physical, environmental and operational constraints.

Key elements from a transport planning perspective included:

Sustainable Transport:

A vision-led approach prioritised walking, cycling and public transport wherever practicable.

The proposals included safe pedestrian and cycle routes, crossing facilities, cycle parking, lighting and connections to existing off-site infrastructure. Contributions were also agreed towards targeted sustainable transport improvements.

Vehicle impacts were managed through appropriate parking provision, electric vehicle charging and efficient delivery arrangements designed to avoid peak periods.

Safe and Suitable Access:

The proposed access was developed in accordance with relevant design guidance while considering traffic speeds, road classification, land ownership, root protection areas and existing highway infrastructure.

Formal Departure from Standard information was submitted to Hampshire County Council, with the access arrangement subsequently accepted.

Traffic and Highway Impact:

Detailed traffic analysis and junction modelling considered existing background traffic and the proportion of customers likely to visit the store as part of an existing journey along the A27.

Although the local network experiences high traffic levels during peak periods, the assessment demonstrated that the foodstore would not have a material impact on the operation of the immediate or wider highway network.

The findings were also presented in a clear, non-technical format to help local residents and consultees understand the proposals.

Mayer Brown worked collaboratively with Hampshire County Council to refine the scheme and agree appropriate off-site sustainable transport improvements.

By responding positively to successive technical reviews and providing clear supporting evidence, all transport concerns were resolved. The Highway Authority subsequently recommended approval, subject to agreed planning obligations and conditions.

The project demonstrates Mayer Brown’s ability to unlock constrained development sites through detailed technical analysis, collaborative stakeholder engagement and pragmatic problem-solving.

Following planning approval, Mayer Brown continues to support the scheme through the preparation of a Construction Environmental Management Plan, detailed Section 278 highway design, surface water and foul drainage design and Travel Plan implementation.