How Transport Assessments and Travel Plans support planning applications

As the UK motors toward its net-zero goals, travel and transport considerations are now a vital part of the planning process. Transport Assessments and Travel Plans can help you secure planning permission and deliver developments that are not only smarter, but more sustainable, too. 

We explore everything you need to know about Transport Assessments and Travel Plans below, so that you understand what’s required to obtain planning consent for your upcoming project.

Put simply, Transport Assessments and Travel Plans provide local planning authorities with a clear understanding of how a proposed development will affect the surrounding traffic network. These assessments form part of a wider evidence base, which is used to determine whether a scheme is acceptable in terms of traffic impact and alignment with local and national transport strategies.

When are Transport Assessments and Travel Plans required?

As our Transport Consultant, Tyler Shin, explains: “Transport Assessments and Travel Plans are an integral part of the planning process. Local authorities have differing thresholds on when a Transport Assessment and Travel Plan are required. However, they are typically required when the development will generate significant amounts of traffic or there is an intensification of use.” 

A Transport Assessment is generally required for the following types of developments:

• Large-scale residential or commercial developments
• Developments near congested junctions or in areas with limited public transport services
• Developments that involve changes of use that will impact existing traffic patterns

A Travel Plan may also be requested if:

• Your site is expected to attract high volumes of staff, visitors, or deliveries
• Your local authority has any congestion concerns or sustainability targets it needs to meet
• Your development will form part of a larger masterplan or regeneration strategy

You should always seek early advice from an expert Transport Consultant, like Encon Associates, to clarify which assessment you’ll need. If you fail to provide a Transport Assessment or Travel Plan for your planning application, this could lead to planning delays or outright refusal.

What’s included in a Transport Assessment?

The overall goal of a Transport Assessment is to highlight any potential transport issues that your development may cause and demonstrate how your scheme will integrate into the existing transport network. As well as being used to obtain planning permission, a Transport Assessment also ensures that your development aligns with the UK’s broader sustainability goals.

A Transport Assessment typically covers the following:

• A detailed review of the current transport conditions, including local road networks, public transport accessibility, pedestrian and cycle routes, and existing travel behaviours
• A forecast of your development’s potential transport impact using methodologies such as TRICS (Trip Rate Information Computer System) and distribution analysis
• Proposed mitigation measures to minimise any negative travel impacts, such as public transport enhancements, car club provision, and integration with local cycling strategies
• Consideration of how your development will align with local transport policies and frameworks to ensure it contributes positively to long-term transport planning objectives

Discover more about what’s included in our Transport Assessments.

What’s included in a Travel Plan?

While a Transport Assessment focuses on assessing the traffic impact of your development, a Travel Plan outlines key strategies to influence travel behaviour. 

As Tyler Shin, our Transport Consultant, notes: “Travel Plans help manage how site users travel to and from the site. This is achieved by implementing measures and initiatives to encourage the uptake of walking, cycling, and public transport to create a more sustainable travel environment, while reducing traffic on local roads.”

A Travel Plan may include:

• Baseline surveys and travel audits to assess how people currently travel to and from the site
• Targets for reducing single-occupancy car use and encouraging more sustainable transport modes, such as car sharing, cycling, walking, and public transport
• Proposing enhancements to make walking and cycling more attractive, such as secure cycle parking and well-lit pedestrian routes
• Incentives for public transport use like discounted travel passes, real-time transport information screens, and shuttle services to nearby stations
• Ongoing monitoring and management plans to ensure that these measures are implemented throughout the entire lifecycle of the development

Learn more about how our Travel Plans can help you meet local transport planning requirements.

As members of The Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation, we deliver comprehensive Transport Assessments and Travel Plans that help planners and developers across the UK to obtain planning permission for their upcoming schemes. 

We have extensive experience in supporting a wide range of development types with their transport infrastructure – from small residential schemes through to complex mixed-use developments. From reducing congestion and carbon emissions to encouraging more sustainable modes of transport, our expert Highways Engineers will work closely with you to ensure that your scheme not only fulfils planning conditions, but also contributes positively to the UK’s wider sustainability goals.  

Get in touch today to discover how we can support your next planning application.