Draft Regulation 18 Sandwell Local Plan
Managing Transport Impacts of New Development
11.28 To ensure that the transport elements of the Sandwell Local Plan are deliverable, it is essential that both new developments and existing facilities identify travel and transportation impacts and proposals for mitigation. It is important that accessibility by a choice of sustainable modes of transport is maximised. Transport Assessments and Travel Plans produced by developers, employers, schools and facility operators are essential to bring about sustainable travel solutions and help deliver Strategic Objectives 2 and 16.
Policy STR3 – Managing Transport Impacts of New Development
- Planning permission will not be granted for any proposals that are likely to have significant transport implications, unless accompanied by mitigation schemes that demonstrate an acceptable level of accessibility and safety can be achieved using all modes of transport to, from and through the development. Mitigation schemes must in particular address access by walking, cycling, public transport and shared transport.
- These proposals should be in accordance with an agreed Transport Assessment, where deemed necessary by the Local Highway Authority, and include the implementation of measures to promote and improve such sustainable transport infrastructure and facilities through agreed Travel Plans and similar measures.
- Sustainable transport modes must be made more convenient than car usage for the majority of journeys in order to promote genuine modal shift. They should be supported by the necessary management and regulatory measures if deemed necessary by the Local Highway Authority. Planning conditions and /or legal agreements may be required to ensure the implementation of agreed measures.
Justification
11.29 All developments will be assessed both in terms of their impact on the transport network and the opportunities that could be available to ensure that the site is accessible by sustainable modes of transport. The supporting documentation will either take the form of a full Transport Assessment (TA) or a less detailed Transport Statement (TS) and will generally be determined by the size and scale of development or land use. This will be based on guidance from individual authorities with a TA sometimes being required instead of a TS based on reasons other than spatial thresholds; road safety concerns, existing congestion problems, air quality problems, concerns over community severance or likelihood of off-site parking being generated.
11.30 TfWM's guide for developers should be routinely consulted for larger developments.
11.31 Where a development is considered to have a potential significant effect on the Strategic Road Network, National Highways will be involved.