New research commissioned and published by the Department for Transport (DfT) has highlighted recommendations made in the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) report Better Planning, Better Transport, Better Places (2019), particularly calls to reform transport appraisal to assess transport and land use interventions together in terms of economic, social and environmental impact. 

The DfT report analyses the impacts of integrated land-use and transport planning and summarises evidence on how combining land-use and transport planning affects outcomes relating to travel, the economy, and the environment. 

Integrated land use and transport planning is a policy and practice framework that aligns land development with the design and operation of transport networks.  

Frontier Economics was commissioned by DfT to conduct a rapid evidence assessment (REA) of the literature evaluating the impacts of different approaches to integrated land use and transport planning. The findings of the research show that, when implemented effectively, integrated planning can: 

Since the publication of Better Planning, Better Transport, Better Places, the planning system in England has become a major focus of legal and policy reform. Planning and construction are at the centre of the UK Government’s growth strategy, as it targets 1.5 million new homes built over the next five years.  

Reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) were finalised in December 2024 and in January 2025 DEFRA launched a consultation on land use. In September 2025, the UK Government published the New Towns Taskforce: Report to government. As of November 2025, the Planning and Infrastructure Bill is currently making its way through the UK Parliament.   

In October 2025, CIHT published an article assessing some of the changes to the planning system since the original publication of Better Planning, Better Transport, Better Places and highlighting the importance of effective land use.  

CIHT members can read the article to find out more about the UK government's planning reform programme and what experts from CIHT's membership believe is still needed to ensure the planning system delivers better transport outcomes. With topics ranging from new towns, land use and the role of local authorities, this article covers a range of key planning issues faced by the sector.  

CIHT looks forward to continuing to work with the Department for Transport, the Department for Energy, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government to create a transport network fit for all our futures. 

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