Transport Planning

The Role of Transport Planning in Development

A reliable transport system is the foundation of any successful planning project.

It could involve congested urban areas or sensitive rural areas. Either way, modern town planning requires a deep understanding of how people and goods move.

Between our technical knowledge of development and the input of a company we partner with for navigating transport policy, we can help you with organising transport planning in your development.

What is Transport Planning?

Transport planning is the process of evaluating and managing transport networks to ensure that they are able to accommodate a new development.

The main aim is to create functional and safe communities, and to do that, road traffic needs to be balanced alongside public transport.

When Would Transport Planning Be Needed?

Whenever a development impacts the highway or approval is needed from decision makers, engagement with a transport planning professional is needed.

Input on transport planning is also necessary if the development affects sensitive areas, changes site access, disrupts local transport plans, increases traffic volume, meets local thresholds or requires condition discharge.

By addressing all potential transport issues early, any concerns around the viability and safety of the project can be considered early in the process.

Transport Planning Services

In the section below, we cover the different services that are used to guide transport planning, including the assessments, surveys, plans and reports, the practices, exercises and approaches, and the equipment, tools, technology and software.

Assessments and Reports for Transport Planning

Transportation Management Plan (TMP)

Also known as a traffic management plan (TMP) or a construction traffic management plan (CTMP), a transportation management plan (TMP) primarily outlines a strategy for managing all site-related traffic during the build.

More than anything, the purpose of a CTMP is to minimise disruption to the local community by defining specific delivery routes, hours of operation, and on-site vehicle holding areas.

Delivery and Servicing Management Plans (DSMPs)

With a DSMP, the focus is on the operational life of a building.

The plans explain how the site will handle daily logistics, such as refuse collection and freight deliveries, with an aim to ensure that the movements don’t block the public highway or create new health and safety issues.

Environmental Traffic Impact Assessments

Assessments on the impact of traffic focus on environmental sustainability by analysing the impact of vehicle movement on local air quality, noise levels and vibrations.

For a development, the assessment will help to prove that increased traffic will not lead to a detrimental effect on the surrounding environment or the health of residents.

Highway Impact Statement

Common in smaller schemes where a full assessment isn’t needed, a statement is mostly made up of highway notes.

All notes will be aimed at justifying that the scale of the development is compatible with the capacity and safety standards of the local road network.

Planning Appeals

If a planning project faces refusal from the local council, technical evidence and expert witness services are needed.

At any point that planning permission has been refused, a new approach will be necessary in order for the planning inspectorate to consider an appeal.

Road Safety Audits

Across four different stages, an evaluation identifies the potential hazards in a road design or the finished layout.

Through each of the audits, the purpose is to minimise the risk of collisions by suggesting design changes before, during and after the construction of new highway works.

Transport Assessment and Transport Statement

Both an assessment and a statement are considered primary documents in most applications for planning permission.

It will then be possible to create a detailed analysis of how the project impacts the surrounding transport sector, including junction impact, site accessibility and trip generation.

Transport Mobility Studies

Other methods of transport are covered using transport mobility studies, ensuring that the site is safely accessible for anyone not using a car.

In order to cater to different forms of active travel, the studies refer to non-monitorised user audits (NMUAs) and walking, cycling and horse riding assessments (WCHARs).

Transport Studies

High-level research is used to support large-scale town centre regeneration, local plan submissions and major masterplanning projects.

The studies evaluate long-term strategic growth of a wider area rather than just a single site.

Travel Plans and Travel Plan Coordination (TPC)

As a method of encouraging other forms of transport, certain long-term strategies are designed to reduce car dependency.

Practical measures are considered to open up opportunities for cycling, walking and car-sharing, often including a dedicated coordinator to monitor the progress against agreed targets.

Survey Methods for Transport Planning

Access and Appraisal Design

A process used during the due diligence period, access and appraisal design identifies the potential physical and legal constraints before you commit to a land purchase.

Examples of possible constraints include ransom strips and poor visibility.

Highway/Road Condition Surveys

A visual and technical audit, highway and/or road condition surveys focus on the local road surface.

Innovative Travel Initiatives

Several different methods could be used, such as personalised travel planning, where tailored transport information for residents and employees is created to encourage a shift towards greener travel habits.

Parking Beat Surveys

Usually recorded during peak periods or overnight, parking beat surveys involve a detailed count of local parking availability.

Results then go on to prove to the local council that a new development will not result in potentially problematic overspill onto any neighbouring streets.

Speed and Traffic Surveys

Often using sensors or radars, speed and traffic surveys collect objective data on vehicle volumes and speeds.

Data collected from the surveys creates the essential evidence base for the entire transport strategy.

Tools and Technology for Transport Planning

Accessibility Modelling

Modelling for accessibility determines how well a site connects to essential services, such as schools and hospitals.

It can also partner with existing data to prove that the site is in a recognised sustainable location for future residents to occupy and inhabit.

Junction Capacity Modelling

Modelling for junction capacity gauges for any likelihood of any new entrance or increased traffic causing gridlock or excessive delays at nearby junctions.

For an accurate view of how local traffic might look after the development, highly specialised software will map out the realistic impact of traffic based on the plans of the new road layout.

Swept Path Analysis

Looking at the finer details of the site’s road space, swept path analysis considers whether large vehicles can safely turn and manoeuvre within the proposed site layout.

Outcomes from the analysis are decided based on the creation of digital drawings.

TRACC Software

An industry-leading tool, TRACC software is key to completing high-level connectivity mapping.

It is also effective at performing travel time analysis across a wider region.

Stages of Transport Planning

The transport requirements for any project are likely to evolve as the development moves from being an initial idea to a completed structure.

An organised process is needed to ensure that developers and planners meet every milestone required by the highway authority.

1. Pre-Planning and Due Diligence

Before purchasing land or committing to a specific design, you will need to arrange for an access appraisal and design to be carried out.

The end goal is to identify any significant issues in the design relating to transport, such as the lack of visibility at a junction or a ransom strip that could prevent you from connecting to nearby transport networks.

During this stage, you can confirm that you aren’t investing in a site that isn’t technically or legally undevelopable.

2. Planning Application Support

As soon as the site is confirmed, you can move on to the vital step of securing planning permission.

A transport assessment and statement will help the formal submission, but other services can also contribute. For instance, access design drawings will map out the site to the local planning authority for a planning application and junction capacity modelling can prove to decision makers that the local transport system can handle the new development without causing gridlock.

3. Data Collection and Surveys

To back up the planning application with factual evidence, multiple on-site exercises are available.

By gathering real-world data, the surveys provide the objective data needed to overcome planning objections from the local authorities or the local community when it comes to road traffic levels.

4. Sustainable Transport and Accessibility

Modern transport policy favours active travel over less green or unsustainable alternatives.

At this stage, TRACC software and accessibility modelling show how well-connected the site is to public transport, schools and hospitals. NMUAs and WCHARs are also used to ensure that the site is safe and accessible for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.

5. Construction and Operational Management

After planning permission has been granted, you need to discharge specific conditions before you can start work on the site.

A transportation management plan (TMP), traffic management plan (TMP) or construction traffic management plan (CTMP) will manage building logistics, while a delivery and servicing management plan (DSMP) will handle the daily running of the finished development. Under the input of the two plans, the transition from an unfinished construction to a completed development is seamless.

6. Safety and Compliance

In the final stage of the transport planning process, independent road safety audits will be needed, spanning across four different stages.

The audits ensure that the final road layout is safe and future-proofed for all users, from pedestrians to the widespread use of various vehicles, including gas, diesel and electric vehicles currently, as well as the potential for connected and autonomous vehicles in the future.

Request a Referral for a Transport Planning Solution

To meet the expectations of local government and the complexities of transport policy, the best thing you can do is put your faith in the guidance of expert transport planners.

Although Arbtech offers numerous types of surveys and assessments, when it comes to transport planning, we refer to a trusted partner company. The transport planners we recommend have the same strong interest in satisfying the planning requirement as we do, as well as all of the necessary qualifications, including memberships with the Transport Planning Society.

If you want advice on what to do next or if you want to book one of the transport planning services mentioned on this page, reach out to us, and we can pass you on to our partner company. Contact us via email, over the phone or by filling out a contact form, and we will get back to you straight away.