Transport policy

Local authorities have a crucial role to play in developing sustainable transport.

Joined-up thinking can deliver multiple benefits. Alongside the planning, transport, highways and green space departments, childrens services, regeneration and economic development services have key roles to play.

These interests are reflected through a range of national indicators within the local area agreement, such as tackling obesity, reducing congestion, housing growth as well as reduced carbon emissions. The local development framework provides an opportunity for planning policy to reflect aspirations for sustainable transport and urban planning to deliver the broader sustainable community strategy.

Regional and sub-regional policy and planning is another key area for developing sustainable transport strategies and linking regional transport and spatial planning will help direct more sustainable policies.

Planning policy and guidance

PPS1: Planning and climate change supplement states that regional planning bodies and planning authorities should prepare, and manage the delivery of, spatial strategies that ’deliver patterns of urban growth and sustainable rural developments that help secure the fullest possible use of sustainable transport for moving freight, public transport, cycling, walking; and which, overall, reduce the need to travel, especially by car’.

PPG13: Transport includes an objective to integrate planning and transport at all levels to promote more sustainable transport choices, promote accessibility to amenities by public transport and reduce the need to travel.

More guidance

Towards a sustainable transport system - supporting economic growth in a low carbon world proposes a new approach to longer-term transport strategy production.

Building sustainable transport into new developments: a menu of options for growth points and eco-towns sets out advice on how to build an effective sustainable transport system in new developments, from the planning through to the implementation stage.

Manual for streets provides guidance for practitioners involved in the planning, design, provision and approval of new residential streets, and modifications to existing ones.

Creating successful masterplans: a guide for clients outlines the key opportunities for encouraging sustainable transport solutions through masterplanning.

The London transport strategy provides a useful example of joined-up sustainable transport planning.

Eco-towns transport worksheet outlines the sustainable transport criteria which need to be addressed at a settlement scale.

Cycling England provides a programme of smart measures as well as engineering and planning guidance to encourage cycling.

The Institute of Highway Incorporated Engineers provides design guidance and case studies for home zones in the UK.