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Travel Plan Guide

Gloucestershire County Council's Travel Plan Guide for Developers - Reviewed July 2011

This guide is intended to support developers and consultants when preparing travel plans to be submitted as part of the planning process. It can also be used by organisations who wish to draw up a Travel Plan to facilitate more efficient and sustainable working practices (Voluntary Travel Plan). 

Please note: this document is for guidance purposes only; submitted Travel Plans will be assessed on an individual basis by the Local Authority, however by following the guidance it is likely that you will minimise the need for revisions to be made to the Travel Plan.

Travel plans have proven benefits, they can save companies money and improve the health of their employees and they can also solve problems like lack of parking or poor accessibility.

Download a copy of the Appendix E: Travel Plan Guidance for Developers

5 good reasons to develop a travel plan

1. Cost savings for your business

Effective management of your organisation's travel will reduce costs associated with business journeys like staff expenses, car park charges and fleet management costs, saving your organisation money and time.

2. A more attractive employer

Providing and encouraging travel options will help improve staff retention and recruitment by making your organisation even more employee focused, positively supporting your staff needs which enhance employee satisfaction and productivity.

By promoting greater travel choices, you'll enhance your core business prospects by giving employees, visitors and customers more ways of reaching you. It will also help alleviate car parking pressures at your site.

3. Achieve carbon reduction

Enhance your environmental credentials by being part of the solution that will make a local and global difference, reducing carbon emissions by encouraging more sustainable travel options.

4. A healthier, more productive workplace

Promoting active travel options like walking and cycling will improve the motivation, health and fitness of your employees; this improves productivity and reduces sickness absence.

5. Be an employer of choice

Demonstrating your commitment to corporate social responsibility, you'll build a better reputation with staff, key stakeholders and your local community.

Guidance on measures to support travel planning and associated costs

Background

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) has a joint responsibility with district authorities to mitigate the impact of travel from new development. National guidance advises the use of Transport Assessments and Travel Plans in order to identify the most appropriate measures for managing travel. GCC is responsible for keeping traffic moving and ensuring the effective management of the local road network. We contribute towards the Council's aims of making our communities safer, making transport work and managing our Environment and Economy.

GCC’s transport aims are;

  • A Greener Healthier Gloucestershire
  • A Safer Securer Transport System
  • Good Access to Services; and
  • Managing our Highways

We will assess the impact of a scheme as outlined below:

Guidance/ Policy background to support the decision.

We will consider the impact of the proposal based on the following;

  • Delivering Travel Plans though the Planning Process - Department for Transport
  • Planning Policy Guidance 13
  • Circular 5/2005
  • Travel Plan Guide for Developers - Gloucestershire County Council
  • Gloucestershire County Council local Transport Plan
  • Travel Plans and Costs - JMP on behalf of the Highways Agency

Assessment

In all cases requiring a travel plan, we work to complete a s106 agreement with the applicant and landowners as soon as possible in relation to GCC requirements; as set out in our Travel Plan Guide for Developers.

The template agreement will depend on the type of development, in brief the templates are;

 

If figures or estimates are not provided, occupation on business premises with B1 land use will be established using the B1 Office Space calculation (See Advice Sheet 8 ‘Business Travel Plans’).

Deposits and or contributions for residential developments will be based on the information provided above with particular reference to Travel Plan Advice Sheet 7 ‘Residential Travel Plans’.

Monitoring fees will be dependent on the length of the monitoring period set (usually 5-10 years) and the complexity of both the site and the monitoring requirements. As a rough guide we base the figure on approximately £1,000 per annum, which pays staff time to;

  • check the travel plan’s compliance;
  • review submitted reports;
  • record and review figures and targets;
  • maintain beneficial measures such as www.carsharegloucestershire.com and
  • advise coordinators.

More Information?

www.dft.gov.uk

 

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