Travel plans and the planning process
What is a travel plan?
A travel plan is a long term strategy for managing access to an
organisation or site and the travel demands of the people using it.
It is specific to an area and is not simply a one off document but
an ongoing process which will evolve over time.
Travel plans aim to reduce the reliance on single occupancy car
use and seek to offer and encourage a range of alternative forms of
travel, particularly walking, cycling, public transport and car
sharing.
In most cases a travel plan will need to be submitted alongside
the Transport Assessment.
The travel plan should set out clear aims and objectives to help
mitigate and reduce any predicted increase in vehicle journeys as a
result of the proposed development.
When are travel plans required?
Transport Assesments and Travel Plans should be submitted
alongside planning applications which are likely to result in
traffic generation. All major developments will require a travel
plan to be submitted with the transport assessment.
A travel plan is a tool to mitigate the increase in traffic
likely as a result of the new development (regardless of what this
development is). They should be live documents submitted by
developers then implemented by the occupier to manage travel and
promote sustainable and active forms of travel.
The Department for Transport's Guidance on Transport Assessments
(March 2007) proposes thresholds for travel plans and transport
assessments.
Further more detailed guidance on submitting a travel plan for
approval with a planning application is available from
Travelchoice, email travelchoice@peterborough.gov.uk
to discuss requirements for your application.
Other useful information
Travel plans relate to design as well as the measures and
facilities put in place. It is therefore essential that the
following documents are taken into account before submitting a
planning application:
Peterborough Cycle Design Guidelines
Peterborough Cycle Parking
Guidelines
Manual for Streets
DfT Guidance on Transport
Assessments