New Transport Assessment Guidance for England s Spatial Planning System Ian Askew Head of Spatial Planning Highways Agency
The Road to a Guidance on Transport Assessment (GTA) 1994: IHT Transport Impact Assessment current guidance 1998: DTLR review 2001: PPG13 recommendation to use Transport Assessments but still no guidance 2005: Instruction from HA Board to produce TA guidance specific to HA Joint HA / DfT / ODPM project with HA providing the delivery resource
Context 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act Delivery of sustainable development Predict & Provide approach is not compatible with this aim
Philosophy (1) Proactive engagement in the preparation of the Development Plan (RSS + DPDs) Consistency throughout the planning process Iterative approach founded on principles of sustainability: Sustainable location Impact avoidance / minimisation Access/capacity management Capacity enhancement as last resort and only where compatible with sustainable principles
Philosophy (2) Developers can no longer expect that all the traffic they might produce will be allowed without restraint even where capacity is available General presumption against capacity enhancements purely for development purposes Capacity enhancements identified in Regional Spatial Strategy rather than at Planning Application stage
Philosophy (3) Assessment of operational capacity 5 year Review Period from registration of planning application (10 years for Strategic Road Network) Full assessment process not normally required where development proposals are fully consistent with the adopted Development Plan (RSS + DPDs) All proposals (Development Plans and Planning Applications) should be supported by a Transport Assessment agreed with the relevant Authorities
Basic Principles behind the GTA (1) Adoption of Sustainability Objectives and Good Practice Should reflect National Planning Policy Drop outmoded concepts: 5% & 10% Thresholds Predict and Provide Iterative Approach to Assessment
Basic Principles behind the GTA (2) Need for Assessment Pre-Application Consultation Guidance on Thresholds Transport Statements / Transport Assessments Travel Plans Development Plan Process
Need for an Assessment Pre-applications discussions to determine the scope and level of assessment required. If an assessment is required, there are two levels: Transport Statement : development which has relatively small transport implications. Transport Assessment : development which has significant transport and/or environmental implications.
Transport Statements Used for development proposals that are expected to generate relatively low trips or traffic flow, with minor transport impacts. Should consist of: description of the existing conditions at the proposed site details of the proposed development
Transport Assessments Required for proposals likely to have significant transport and/or environmental impacts. Should contain the information contained in the Transport Statement plus: Details of impacts of proposed development assessed against NATA criteria Proposed transport solutions derived through iterative assessment process
Iterative approach
Travel Plans Measures vs. Outcomes Monitoring Enforcement
Ideal Travel Plan We will reduce trips from the site by X % The proposed monitoring regime is If the target of X % is not met, the matrix of remedial actions is [dependant on the extent that target not met & nature of failure]
Link with the Development Plan Process The techniques and principles of the GTA can be applied beneficially to the preparation of Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Planning Frameworks. Assessment methodology used will ensure consistency and the support of a sound evidence base.
Where are we now? Public consultation 7 th August 31 st October 2006 Publication of finalised GTA by end December 2006 (coincident with new HA spatial planning policy)