Our in-depth response was produced in discussion with The Transport Planning Society (TPS) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) and can be read here. 

Overview 

Our position

We welcome the opportunity to respond to “Planning for the Future”. The review of planning provided by the White Paper affords a unique opportunity to address some of our fundamental concerns with the existing planning system and its ability to respond to the acute challenges set out by the government in the White Paper. These same challenges were highlighted in the Advice, Better Planning Better Transport Better Places1 produced by CIHT in collaboration with TPS and RTPI in 2019, together with representatives from the public and private sector and academics. We are pleased to see that the government recognises and accepts these challenges and is actively seeking to address them.

Our vision for the future of planning in respect of people, places, and transport is one where:

• transport helps society to achieve its objectives
• the outcomes work towards: 
  • reducing inequality
  • decarbonising our way of life to combat the impacts of climate change and air pollution
  • improving health and well-being
  • supporting the economy

• the outputs are:
  • a society where people can choose to live a quality life without relying on a car, particularly one that they privately own
  • places are designed so people have priority not cars
  • there is equality of accessibility
  • a national public transport network providing high levels of accessibility across the country
  • transport is decarbonised

The way forward

We support the focus on climate change and the reduction in greenhouse gas targets as well as the idea of “net gains” rather than “no net harm” but how this is developed in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and national/local rules will be critical. As currently drafted, especially in respect of the detail of the Three Pillars, this outcome will not be achieved.

The overall perception created by the White Paper is that we will have a system focussed on building more homes, more quickly to better design standards. It is too narrow. It is a missed opportunity. We need to see more focus given to climate change and consequently to transport; which the government acknowledges elsewhere is key to decarbonisation We need to see more focus on the wide-reaching impacts that planning has for the health of our nation. We need to see more focus on equality of access for all.

Our detailed response focuses therefore on six main areas where transport must be given greater importance if the planning reforms are to deliver real sustainable development, improve people’s lives and effectively tackle the emergencies of climate change, air pollution, and obesity.

A summary of each of the six areas is provided below. These areas are developed further in our responses to the specific questions posed in the White Paper, including suggested ways forward based on the vast experience of our memberships when combined.

1) Support the vision of sustainable development

An integrated approach to the vision for Local Plans. The approach should involve multiple stakeholders including highway and transport authorities, and transport operators to ensure that transport is at the heart of this vision. Engaging communities in an accessible and open way is also critical as they will have a little opportunity at a later stage. These elements in terms of vision, collaboration, and engagement should be statutory requirements.

2)    Revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework

Revisions to the NPPF need to ensure that the requirement for sustainable transport provision not only features in some policy statements but is consistently and coherently underpinning decision-making throughout – e.g. the location of development; the way development is accessed; changes to the basis of refusal of applications (removal of key current statements on “severe” etc. as in the current NPPF); the need for net gains in sustainable transport provision.

Both the national and local design guides should include all aspects of ensuring that sustainable transport is integral to design at each level – community, street, home: they need to relate to the forthcoming updated Manual for Streets and the previous advice produced by CIHT on walking, cycling and public transport as well as that published by Stagecoach which could be incorporated into the forthcoming Planning Policy Guidance on sustainable transport.

Transport, mode share and accessibility targets and standards need to be fundamental components of the national rules for Local Plans. Full account should be taken and be required within the national rules that assessments of all current and future journeys be a part of the evidence base for local plans in the context of reducing the need to travel, promoting active travel and ensuring equality of access. There should be also a requirement that all Local Plans include targets for different modes for each stage of the Plan and proposed transport networks for all modes to be achieved during the life of the Local Plans. The level of accessibility by none car modes should be a basis for determining any zoning or subsequent permissions granted as well as a part of the Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which should also be a statutory requirement. Much of this information should be derived from and part of the Local Transport Plan.

5)    The role of transport assessments 

The current transport appraisal system needs to be urgently reformed to enable plans and developments to be tested against clear and agreed social, environmental, and economic objectives which reinforce the decarbonisation of transport and improve accessibility. It must move away from the predict and provide a methodology that has seen increases in space for motor vehicles to the detriment of communities and space for healthier modes. Greater clarity is needed on how and when transport assessments will operate in the new planning process.

6)    Increasing the capability of professionals

Much more work is needed to increase the capability and capacity of professionals to achieve better places, housing, and sustainable transport together as well as increased resources. New guidance needs to be developed for how planning and transport should be integrated to achieve sustainable outcomes. We have previously submitted proposals to the Department for Transport on what might be entailed in that guidance and we would welcome the opportunity to develop those thoughts in light of the White Paper. We have also previously submitted proposals to the Department for Transport for enhancing the capacity and capability of the sector to respond to the challenges being experienced.