Travel Plan Preparation and Content

It is recognised that early preparation in advance of submitting a planning application for a development can assist in the smooth processing of that application. Travel plan requirements may differ, depending on the scale, land use and end user of the development. Early consultation with the Local Authority Planning Department in conjunction with TravelWise Merseyside is recommenced to discuss specific access and transport requirements.

The type of travel plan submitted for new developments will depend upon the type of development and final end user.

In the case of a speculative development an interim travel plan should be submitted or in the case of a site with multiple occupants an umbrella travel plan should be submitted with the planning application.

An interim (single occupier) or umbrella (multi occupier) Travel Plan outlines the commitments of the developer in terms of infrastructure to support travel by sustainable modes and suggests potential measures to be included within end user travel plan(s) to increase choice of travel options for visitors and staff.

Travel plans at this stage could be a phased approach with an interim agreement specifying measures to be implemented before development and occupation as far as possible and include a framework for implementation for the final travel plan.

A final travel plan prepared and implemented after occupation but in accordance with the framework, based on surveys, would then be submitted within a specified time. The interim travel plan will set out travel plan commitments that are not dependent on a survey of employees, which can be implemented before occupation such as infrastructure.

The interim travel plan should do the following:

• Detail the existing accessibility of the site by all modes (this will be available from the site audit and within the transport assessment)
• Set out all the commitments that are not dependent on a survey of the occupiers' employees/ visitors/ deliveries and which can be implemented before occupation.
  E.g. car parking spaces, public transport improvements, cycling and pedestrian facilities including those in the buildings such as changing and shower area.
• Suggest measures for implementation by the final occupier for each mode and potential mode split targets, which could be achieved given the location and commitments implemented by the developer.
• Details of how the requirement to produce and implement a full travel plan will be passed on to the final occupier. E.g. through the lease agreement
• A timetable for final travel plan development, and implementation once end users are in occupation including arrangements for carrying out surveys and monitoring and review.
• For umbrella travel plans (multi-occupier sites) a requirement for each individual occupier to develop a travel plan within a set timeframe shall be included.

Determining interim mode split targets

Developers are required to include mode split targets within the interim travel plan. There is an increasing 'pool' of available information on which to base interim targets, which could later be augmented by travel surveys:

The Transport Assessment should illustrate current and future accessibility to site by all modes and the likely modal split of journey to and from site. The Transport Assessment is important in identifying what actions should be included in the Travel Plan and for future enforcement. The DfT issued Guidance on Transport Assessment in 2007.
For further information - link to http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/transportassessments/guidanceonta

Targets could be:

• Number of car journeys to the site per day
• % reduction of private car trips
• Modal split for all journeys
• Travel characteristics of similar organisations in similar locations
  available via the TRICS database; and
• Local Census data for travel to work

The Final Travel Plan or a Travel Plan for a known end user would include:

• Resource allocation, including full time travel co-ordinator and
  dedicated Travel Plan budget.
• Access for all purposes.
• Involvement of employees and residents.
• Information on transport policies, services and facilities.
• Projected travel behaviour and a timetabled schedule for
  ascertaining staff travel behaviour and attitudes.
• Targets for mode share.
• A parking management strategy.
• A marketing and communications strategy.
• Appropriate policies and measures to improve access and encourage sustainable travel.
• Consideration of a car club scheme.
• Mechanisms for monitoring, reviewing and implementing the travel plan
• An action plan, including a timetable for the implementation of each such element.
• Commitment to annual monitoring and reporting on progress to the Local Authority Planning Officers and TravelWise.

For further advice on Travel Plans, and for pre application talks please contact TravelWise on 0151 330 1253.