Chapter III – part three: A historic town

The potential increase of traffic

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Granted a threefold increase in the number of cars in the Norwich area by the year 2010, and assuming no restraints are operating, then it is estimated that the number of vehicles seeking to enter the old city daily, exclusive of through traffic, would increase to about 76,000 by 2010. Of these 18,000 would be commuters’ cars, 22,000 would be shoppers’ cars or cars used for other private trips, together with about 200 buses and 36,000 vehicles connected with industry and commerce. The total peak hour flow would be of the order of 19,000 vehicles per hour, of which about 75% would be commuters’ cars. The ultimate parking demand for this level of traffic would be about 25,000 spaces, including about 5,000 short term public spaces and 18,000 long term spaces for commuters.*

* It should be understood that these figures relate not only to the normal ‘central area uses’ of the city, but also to a main concentration of industry.