Do I need a Travel Plan?
2 Site characteristics
A site may require a Travel Plan if it falls into one of the following categories:
A Transport Assessment is a document which describes current traffic conditions at a site and outlines the potential impact of the proposed development and any mitigation measures.
If a Transport Assessment has been written or commissioned, it is likely a Travel Plan will also be required to help mitigate the impact of the proposed development.
A development may not have a car park on site, or not enough parking to accommodate all staff. Nearby car parks could also be expensive or lack suitable security.
There may also be limitations in the level of on-street parking available, or the site may be located in a residential area where on-street parking is not as desirable.
A Travel Plan would be necessary in this case to help manage the number of cars travelling to the site and reduce pressure on local parking facilities.
Some development sites may be located at the edge of town centres, or in isolated areas, or where public transport provision is poor.
If this is the case, a Travel Plan may be necessary to manage the number of cars travelling to the site and encourage more sustainable modes of travel.
If the site is located next to another significant development, such as a large employment site, a Travel Plan may be needed to help identify measures from that site which could also be beneficial to the proposed development.
In some cases, the site may be located close to a number of modes of transport. These could include train stations, cycle lanes, Metrolink stops, Park & Ride facilities or bus stops.
A Travel Plan may be necessary in this case to identify these options and encourage people to take advantage of them.
Roads near the development may be susceptible to congestion and sensitive to any changes in traffic. Usually, a Transport Assessment would outline mitigation measures to lessen the impact of a development in such a location.
A Travel Plan would help towards further mitigating the impact of the site and demonstrate it would have a minimal impact on traffic congestion.
Walking and cycling (or sustainable travel) has many benefits such as helping a workforce save money, improving their health and reducing car reliance.
A Travel Plan is a good way of co-ordinating sustainable travel measures and reducing the travel impact of the site. Check the TfGM Travel Choices site for more information.
If your site is located adjacent to an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), the local authority may require you to complete a Travel Plan to demonstrate your development will not have a deterimental impact on emissions. You can find out about whether you site is located inside an AQMA by consulting the Government's Defra website.
Some authorities may require a Travel Plan based on the size of the site, in which case, the Travel Plan site thresholds of the local planning authority need to be considered.