What is meant by a sustainable location?

The National Planning Policy Framework has always suggested that transport should be considered at the earliest stages of plan-making and development proposals. However, the 2024 Framework now says that this should be done using a vision-led approach. There is a notable shift of emphasis towards greater promotion of sustainable modes.

This webinar explores the difference between addressing transport and accessibility matters with the more traditional approach of assessing highway safety and capacity issues. To address climate change, improve health and reduce inequalities it will be necessary to provide means of travel that offer genuine choice. This will mean ensuring that development takes place in the most appropriate locations and is designed to encourage the use of active travel and public transport thereby reducing car dependence.

This new approach will require planners and highway engineers to collaborate more effectively and look beyond the issues of highway safety and peak hour traffic congestion. Developers and local authorities will need to work together and with local communities to ensure that access to the facilities and services that everyone needs are provided in more sustainable ways. The webinar presents information that will help inform this approach and consider how this should affect the way in which proposals are assessed in the future, especially having regard to the transport hierarchy set out in the Framework.

Sections of this presentation:
0:00 Introduction and agenda
6:15 Outline of topics to be covered
7:32 Safety and residual traffic effects – the para 116 tests​
11:59 Move to a new approach – vision based​
13:30 Prioritising walking, cycling and public transport​
20:47 Background, transport trends and drivers of change​
23:30 Car ownership, income and house tenure​
27:06 Journey purposes and modal choice​
32:33 Applying the transport hierarchy​
37:53 Assessing proposals​
39:10 Questions and dilemmas
41:11 Structuring the decision
45:02 Conclusion
47:45 Q&A and close