Transport and Movement

Category Background

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.

bq. “The Regional Transport Strategy seeks:
  • “To facilitate urban renaissance and foster social inclusion by rebalancing the structure and use of the transport system. In particular bringing forward measures that encourage modal shift and significantly improve the attractiveness of local public transport services.”
  • “To reduce the wider, environmental, health and community impact associated with the transport system by bringing forward management measures that reduce our dependence on the private car.”
Draft South East Plan Part 1: Core Regional Policies – July 2005 Section D4 Para 1.11

“For those who are reliant on the availability of key services, access can mean the difference between a mere existence and a fulfilling life, between poverty and a decent standard of living.” Draft South East Plan Part 1: Core Regional Policies – July 2005 Section D9 11.3

In a sustainable society, people need to be able to reach employment and facilities, families and friends. However over-reliance on car travel has created local air quality problems, safety issues, and contributes to climate change through the production of greenhouse gases. In addition, it can increase isolation for people without access to cars (disproportionately affecting older people, women, disabled people and the less well-off), particularly where the loss of local facilities occurs where public transport is not available.

There are five key ways to tackle the issue:
  • Reduce the need to travel, ensuring that there are facilities close to where people live and work
  • Locate new homes close to existing facilities, or in areas where public transport can be used to reach appropriate facilities
  • Increase and improve public transport, encouraging a shift away from car use.
  • Reduce the need for personal car ownership or solo journeys, enabling shared car journeys or car clubs.
  • Reduce the dominance of cars in the street scene so that people feel safer when walking or cycling.

“Improvements in communications technology have the potential to reduce the need to travel significantly. Such technology can increase access to services for rural communities and support economic activity more generally through improved access to services and international markets.” Draft South East Plan Part 1: Core Regional Policies – July 2005 Section D4 Para 1.17

Internet commerce (both domestic and commercial) is one way to reduce travel needs whilst increasing convenience and reducing congestion. New developments need to be technically enabled to access the internet efficiently, and community internet facilities will help to reduce disadvantage by providing access facilities for people without personal (or efficient) access to the Internet.

“The constraints that will continue to exist in terms of the capacity of the transport system, when coupled with the need to rebalance the use of the transport system, means that overall local authorities should seek a level of parking provision that is more demanding than that set out in PPG13.” Draft South East Plan Part 1: Core Regional Policies – July 2005 Section D4 Para 1.17

The availability of car parking often means that people opt to use their cars even when an adequate public transport system exists, so the number of parking places provided on a new development is an important issue. The space needed for carparking (often not used at certain times of the day or evening) is expensive and takes up land which could be used for other purposes.

Reduced parking provision, as part of an integrated package of transport measures, plays an important role in encouraging people to use alternatives to the car.

“An improved quality of life in towns and cities needs to be fostered by a more environmentally sustainable form of development. Local authorities, service providers, the local community and developers should pay particular attention to:

  • the contribution which high quality public realm, private gardens, open spaces, streets, squares and green corridors can make to urban areas
  • ways to further promote the management of traffic to achieve a better urban environment, including measures which improve road safety, give priority to pedestrians, cyclists, buses and essential business users and opportunities to improve transport integration”
Draft South East Plan Part 1: Core Regional Policies – July 2005 Section D7 para 2.13

Poorly designed roads and streets, with random on-street parking arrangements can detract significantly from the appearance of a location, be it rural, suburban or urban. Large expanses of car parking are usually unattractive and intrusive. Location choice and design measures can significantly reduce the impact of parking on an area.

Traffic management is a key element to encouraging people to walk or cycle. Home Zones, “quiet lanes” and prioritisation of pedestrians and cyclists on appropriate streets are important in improving perceived and actual safety. Traffic calming at the design stage – so called “psychological traffic calming” reduces the need for subsequent measures such as signage, chicanes and speed humps (DfT guidance forthcoming).

Public transport needs to be accessible, but also reliable and safe. In part this will be affected by wider traffic management, but larger developments present opportunities for improved waiting facilities, information provision and new routes.

With these policy issues in mind, this section of the checklist addresses:

  • Site location
  • ICT infrastructure
  • Availability and access to public transport
  • Car parking – standards and flexible spaces
  • Cycle routes and facilities
  • Access to facilities
  • Traffic calming through design measures
  • Car clubs