Developers

Travel Plans have also become increasingly important within the planning process - and with merit. Proper consideration of transport accessibility and the travel patterns that are likely to be generated by development is vital to realise the full potential of development schemes.

A good transport strategy, underpinned by a strong Travel Plan, is often critical to the acceptability of a development proposal – and, indeed, the viability of your site in the long term.

Increasingly, developers are being asked to include elements of sustainable energy into their development proposals, and the Government has set a target for all new homes in England to be 'zero carbon' by 2016 and similar policies are emerging across the UK.

While transport is not currently included in the evaluation of a 'zero carbon' scheme, a strong, carbon-focused transport strategy and Travel Plan for the development can show real innovation and commitment to this agenda.

Click on the links below to read about some case studies.

Travel Plans in Planning Policy

Planning Policy Guidance Note 13 (PPG13): Transport, issued by Government in 2001, established the planning policy background for this subject area. It states (para. 89):

The Government considers that travel plans should be submitted alongside planning applications which are likely to have significant transport implication…

PPG13 was followed in 2002 by the joint Department for Transport and then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister best practice guidance document 'Using the Planning Process to Secure Travel Plans'.

More recently, 'Guidance on Transport Assessment' (DfT, DCLG, 2007) has reinforced the essential role of Travel Plans for managing travel demand of proposed new development.