how can i find out if a bus route is proposed?

insanojackson

Looking at new builds and a friend who used to work for the builder has drew to my attention that it is highly likely that the road that goes straight past the front door of the plot I am looking at will eventually form part of a bus route (all be it a low speed one).

The sales rep has not mentioned this to me at all and i will be speaking to them about however is anyone aware of any way of finding out? do service bus routes need any sort of planning permission I can check on?

chris_m

You could try the council and/or the local bus companies but if the area is still being developed they may well not know of or have any definite plans as yet.

Wyndham

I'm not clear if you think it's a good thing or a bad thing? Personally I think a bus route is useful, and may help resale values as the population gets older, a bit less mobile, and greener. I'd see it an an asset to a house, not a drawback.

But, if the bus stop was directly ouside my front door, and it meant more litter etc. then I'd be less happy.

propertyman

It is your county council, or metropolitan authority or in London, TFL. Other cities might have quangos like TFL but as they are north of Watford, and west of Reading, I have no clue.

Try their websites first.

insanojackson

propertyman wrote: »

It is your county council, or metropolitan authority or in London, TFL. Other cities might have quangos like TFL but as they are north of Watford, and west of Reading, I have no clue.

Try their websites first.

Tried the council website and their planning portal, cannot find anything at all.

00ec25

insanojackson wrote: »

Tried the council website and their planning portal, cannot find anything at all.

do it the old fashioned way, ring the council and have a 2 way conversation where they can then suggest answers/alternatives - as stated its county council that controls bus contracts

propertyman

insanojackson wrote: »

Tried the council website and their planning portal, cannot find anything at all.

Did you try the county council or just your local council? Which county or metropolitan area are you in?

EG We have our parish council, mid Sussex district and West Sussex. it's West Sussex who deal with transport.

insanojackson

propertyman wrote: »

Did you try the county council or just your local council? Which county or metropolitan area are you in?

EG We have our parish council, mid Sussex district and West Sussex. it's West Sussex who deal with transport.

Its Durham and we now only have the county council.
Im ringing the builders soon and will check with the council tomorrow when open.

martindow

Traffic Commissioners license bus routes in England outside London.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/topics/tpm/traffic-commissioners

There is a phone number for the NE traffic commissioner's office there.

A bus route change or a new route has to be introduced after a period of notice.

As has been said, a local bus route could be considered as a good thing rather than devaluing a house.

propertyman

You'll find it in the planning policy section in one of the various plans.

But as reading them might cause you to lose the will to live, I agree call them, and as suggested, the dft.

The council plans/implements, and the DFT licences.

novo_2

Just call the council's planning department. The application should be online, but it might take a long time to sift through it, but the officers dealing with the application will know exactly if a bus line is planned on that street or not, as this would have to be part of the application.

I don't think calling the DfT is going to help, as it is a local matter and the planning officers will know exactly who dealt with the application.
If you can't find anything out by phoning the planners (but I'm sure they'll be happy to help), you can PM me the address and I will have a look at the planning documents if you want.