Overview
JNP Group were appointed to prepare a Travel Plan for a residential development comprising up to 200 dwellings in Willington, County Durham.
The Travel Plan was submitted as part of a Discharge of Conditions application to Durham County Council to satisfy a pre-occupation condition from the outline planning consent.
A Travel Plan aims to minimise dependency on the private car and encourage residents to make informed choices about their travel behaviours.
A review of existing opportunities to travel by sustainable modes was carried out, such as walking, cycling routes and local bus services.
Summary
A target was established to decrease the overall proportion of car trips to and from the development by 5%, over a period of 5 years. This target was set following discussions with Durham County Council and the client. Progress towards achieving the target will be reviewed by undertaking annual monitoring surveys, through a Travel Plan Co-ordinator, which is a service also offered by JNP Group.
A series of measures were set out to encourage the use of sustainable modes of transport and minimise car dependency. This includes providing all dwellings with a Travel Information Pack, offering discounted travel passes and promoting the use of car sharing services. The Travel Plan was approved by Durham County Council and the pre-occupation condition was discharged.
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Services Provided
- Review of a previous Travel Plan from the outline application
- Production of a revised Travel Plan which was specific to the latest development proposals
- Liaison with the client team regarding sustainable travel initiatives
- Addressing comments from the Local Highway Authority
Challenges
- A Travel Plan had previously been prepared at outline stage and feedback was provided by the Local Highway Authority, which needed to be addressed within the updated document
- Ensuring that the measures and targets were proportionate to the likelihood of residents being able to travel sustainably e.g. by identifying the availability of amenities within a reasonable walking distance
Solutions
- Utilising key information from the previous Travel Plan and updating this where necessary
- Undertaking a review of existing amenities within a reasonable walking and cycling distance, as well as public transport services nearby
- Setting out realistic Travel Plan measures and targets
- Providing an Action Plan so the timescales and responsibilities are clearly established.
