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Scheme Objectives:
The comprehensive redevelopment of the former British Sugar Factory in Sproughton Road, Ipswich. This is a comprehensive mixed use development project covering 52 hectares of land.

The scheme includes a local community centre, a health centre, a primary school, retirement / care homes, a range of commercial facilities and informal open spaces including a riverside walk, nature reserve and cycle path.

Mayer Brown’s Role:

The modelling team at Mayer Brown started with trip generation and attraction calculations by merging the TRICS (Trip Rate Information Computer System) database with the survey data from a local comparison site. These trips were then distributed by journey purpose using gravity models. The modal shares by car, bus, cycling and walking were derived and vehicle trips assigned to the network.

Mayer Brown prepared a PARAMICS micro-simulation model of the highway corridor linking Sproughton Road, the development site, Bramford Road and Ipswich town centre. The baseline Paramics model simulates the 2005 morning and evening peak periods in each case over a three hour period.

The network model is based on digital Ordnance Survey data and notes taken on site whilst observing the network in operation. Traffic signals in the model have been set up using timings obtained from Ipswich Borough Council and include the simulation of the hurry call facility for buses that operates at some of these junctions. Bus stops have been included in the model.

The demand matrix in the Paramics model is based on data gathered during 2005 traffic surveys. The final matrix has been produced using the matrix estimation tool within the Paramics software, the Origin/Destination (O/D) survey and the turning counts taken at junctions throughout the network.

The PARAMICS model was used in conjunction with the LINSIG, ARCADY, PICADY and TRANSYT junction models to evaluate the network performance of different planning and management options with the added trips to and from the development and other approved schemes. A door to door interview survey was carried out at a residential development currently being built at Ravenswood in South Ipswich.

This survey established how and to where people travelled to work, school, food shopping, non-food shopping and leisure activities.

The results of the survey allowed a calibration factor to be calculated for each of the different journey purposes. This factor was then used to create a distribution model for the Broadmeadow development which enabled us to predict the trips from the site to each destination.

The distribution model predicts total travel demand by all modes of transport, enabling a comprehensive study into the impact of the proposed residential likely level of public transport demand but also the most likely destinations.

The travel demand associated with employment was predicted using a similar method to the residential element but was this time based on Census 2001 data. The model was based on the travel to nearby existing employment sites.

The results provided us with the percentage number of trips from each Census Output Area (COA) across the Ipswich district.

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