Transport and Movement

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To ensure people can reach facilities they need by appropriate transport modes, encouraging walking and public transport use and reducing the use of private cars for shorter journeys.

Read the background on Transport and Movement

Question 4.1

Objective

To encourage and enable the use of public transport.

Importance: Importance

Question

Is the development within an existing public transport corridor?

Targets and Justification

Best
Yes, excess capacity already exists which can accommodate users of the development
Good
Yes, sufficient capacity to accommodate users of development can be brought on-stream during the build process
Minimum
Yes - spare capacity unknown or required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.2

Objective

To ensure the availability of frequent and convenient public transport links to train, tram or tube.

Importance: Importance

Question

What is the furthest distance that an occupier would have to travel to a major fixed public transport node (train, bus etc) using a regular (every 10-15 mins in urban areas and every 30 mins – 1hour in rural areas) public or community transport link?

Targets and Justification

Best
<800m
Good
<1.5km
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.3

Objective

To encourage more frequent use of public transport during the entire year, by having waiting areas which are considered safe and out of the weather.

Importance: Importance

Question

What provision has been made for a comfortable/safe bus shelter or waiting rooms?

Targets and Justification

Best
Comfortable, lit waiting areas in key locations with access to information
Good
Bus shelters provided
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.4

Objective

To reduce levels of car parking available as an incentive to use public transport and other methods of mobility and communication.

Importance: Importance

Question

How has the developer managed car parking requirements?

Targets and Justification

Best
As good practice, with provision of alternate transport, including car share/ car club or pool, (and dedicated spaces for these), with tailored advice provided to each dwelling to help them create individual travel plans.
Good
Exceeds local authority minimum, with parking restraint measures (limited on-site spaces, limited garage space, cycle parking space in dwellings and on-street) and a development travel plan
Minimum
Within standards set by the relevant local planning authority

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.5

Objective

To provided flexible space which can accommodate other uses outside the areas of peak parking demand.

Importance: Importance

Question

What percentage of communal car parks have been designed to be for flexible use? (e.g. play space, market space, when not being used for parking)

Targets and Justification

Best
>20%
Good
10-20%
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.6

Objective

To enable residents to use and enjoy space around homes whilst maintaining vehicular access.

Importance: Importance

Question

Does the development have ‘Home zones’ or equivalent ?

Targets and Justification

Best
All residential areas away from spine and arterial roads
Good
Some in residential areas
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.7

Objective

To promote cycling as a real alternative to the use of private cars for shorter journeys, whilst reducing the fear of crime

Importance: Importance

Question

Is there a network of safe bike routes under good natural surveillance?

Targets and Justification

Best
Site wide network with direct links to neighbouring routes
Good
Key facilities served by dedicated cycle routes
Minimum
Routes provided on road side

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.8

Objective

To promote cycling as a real alternative to the use of private cars for shorter journeys, whilst reducing the fear of crime.

Importance: Importance

Question

What provision has been made for bicycle facilities (including showers, lockers etc) at local facilities and at transport nodes.

Targets and Justification

Best
As good practice, with ring fenced funds available for facility adjustment according to actual use once development is completed
Good
Studies carried out on likely facility requirements and conclusions implemented
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.9

Objective

To reduce any need or requirement to travel by car to essential facilities by having them within a reasonable walking distance.

Importance: Importance

Question

Which of the following will be available within the stated distance of all dwellings, located on key pedestrian routes focused around public transport nodes?

  1. Shop selling food and fresh groceries (500m)
  2. Post box (500m)
  3. Childrens’ Playground/ amenity area (500m)
  4. Postal facility (1000m)
  5. Bank or cash point machine (1000m)
  6. Pharmacy (1000m)
  7. Primary School (1000m)
  8. Medical Centre (1000m)
  9. Leisure facilities (1000m)
  10. Local meeting place/ community centre (1000m)
  11. Public House (1000m)
  12. Childcare facilities (nursery/ crèche) (1000m)

Source: Ecohomes

Targets and Justification

Best
All from the list
Good
at least A, C and F in rural areas, at least 6 from the list in urban areas.
Minimum
See relevant local planning authority standard for minimum required

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.10

Objective

To promote the use of virtual communications as an alternative to transport where possible

Importance: Importance

Question

Will the developer install infrastructure in homes and commercial / industrial buildings which will allow the use of virtual communications as an alternative to transport?

Targets and Justification

Best
Fibre Network in place throughout buildings
Good
Ducting in place across development to allow occupier installation of broadband or other cabling systems
Minimum
None established

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Question 4.11

Objective

To ensure vehicle speeds are appropriate to all road users.

Importance: Importance

Question

Is there a traffic management plan in place which encourages the safe passage of vehicles through the development, at an appropriate speed? Note this could include passive design measures (e.g. Road narrowing, surface treatments, etc).

Targets and Justification

Best
Design strategies for entire site
Good
Design strategies for major routes
Minimum
No traffic management plan

Applies to Developments

This question applies to Small, Medium and Large developments.

Development sizes

The checklist has been split into three different versions for different sizes of development:

Small
Up to 10 dwellings
Medium
11 - 999 dwellings
Up to 999 dwellings (mixed use)
Large
1,000 - 5,999 dwellings
1,000 - 5,999 dwellings (mixed)

If the development is for more than 6,000 houses, we recommend a bespoke checklist should be produced by the developer and local authority.

The set of questions for smaller developments is contained within the set of questions for larger developments.