Transport policy
Ample provision of free car parking leaves greener transport in the shade. Photo: © CPRE
Building new railways, creating new bus routes and painting cycle lanes may grab the headlines more than transport planning. Yet without joined-up thinking, new investment can be and often is of limited use. And we don’t just mean thinking about transport but also making sure that new housing, jobs, shops and services are located so they can be reached easily without needing to use a car.
It is not enough that sustainable forms of transport like buses, walking and cycling are simply ‘promoted’. They should to be given comparative advantages – whether in terms of journey time, cost or convenience – over using private cars. This can be done by careful planning over time and using a wide range of tools, such as changes to parking, speed limits, the allocation of road space as well as taxes and fares.
> Our campaign for safer roads and lower speed limits
> Our policy on Road Transport Demand Management (PDF 104Kb)
Local Transport Plans (LTPs) are key at the local level and our network of branches and district groups are involved in influencing them. If you want to make a difference to your local area, it’s time to get busy as local authorities are consulting on new LTPs that will come into force in 2011.
Transport and spatial planning
We have long believed in ‘planning more to travel less’. Indeed the importance of land use planning is increasingly recognised by others as key to reducing carbon emissions from transport in the longer term, not to mention creating more vibrant communities.
> Our report: Back Together Again (PDF 164Kb)
> Planning for Sustainable Travel: external site produced by the Commission for Integrated Transport to highlight the links between planning land use and transport
Planning Policy Statements (PPSs) set out national policy that sets the overriding framework. These PPS (or in some cases older versions called PPGs) are used to shape local plans, such as Local Development Frameworks. This side of planning is called ‘development management’ as it about the big picture for the future. PPSs and local plans (known as development documents) are used to help judge whether new developments, such as housing, shops or roads should be approved: this is called ‘development control’ as it is about controlling building in the present.
> Our joint response on draft PPS4: Planning for Prosperous Economies (PDF 62Kb)
> Our joint response: Better Transport Planning for Eco-towns (PDF 146Kb)
National Policy Statements were created in the Planning Act 2008 and will be used by the new Infrastructure Planning Commission to judge whether major infrastructure developments should be given the go ahead. Three are proposed for transport: National Networks (covering trunk roads and rail), Ports and Aviation.
> Our campaign on planning reform
