Transport for Quality of Life (TFQL) has released a new report on vision led planning, exploring the ways to plan development and transport infrastructure more sustainably. The report, endorsed by CIHT, intends to help plan development and transport infrastructure using an approach that limits road construction and car travel to help grow prosperity, meet decarbonisation objectives and create more sustainable, accessible, equitable and healthy communities. This can help achieve the Government’s five missions to secure prosperity, reach net zero, and improve safety, opportunities and health. 

The report outlines that many roads are congested or have safety issues, while traffic can blight the lives of people living near roads. Policy makers also face development pressures- the need to find space for new housing and stimulate local economies, while not adding to local traffic problems. In most cases policy makers look to increase road capacity to solve these problems rather than considering a full range of options including non-road-based solutions.  

Such an approach increases car dependency which undermines public transport services and the safety and attractiveness of walking, wheeling or cycling.

This has several negative consequences:  

• Poor health and wellbeing: Road traffic causes air pollution and generates noise, which are associated with a wide range of health problems. 
• Carbon emissions: Road building ultimately generates more traffic and increases carbon dioxide emissions. 
• Poor quality places: Cars and roads clutter streets and the public realm, generate noise and vibration, sever communities and take up valuable space. 
• Social exclusion: Increasing car dependency and reduced public transport services mean that many people in the UK are unable to reach jobs, shops and services due to a lack of adequate alternatives to the car. Addressing transport inequity is key to ensuring a Just Transition to Net Zero.
• Increased road casualties: Tens of thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year on Britain’s roads. In fatal collisions between drivers and pedestrians or cyclists it is almost always the pedestrian or cyclist who dies. 
• Environmental damage: Many major road schemes have impacted areas of national or local value for wildlife, landscape or heritage. 
• Drain on public finances: The spending on new roads adds up to billions of pounds a year, often delivering poor value for money.