There is a significant amount of residential development planned for Bracknell Forest Borough. The council needs to make sure suitable sustainable transport measures are in place at these developments to:
- mitigate against the potential traffic impact
- support the objectives of the Local Transport Plan to:
- reduce reliance on cars
- encourage more environmentally friendly forms of travel
- deliver sustainable transport options
Sustainable transport measures also encourage healthier behaviours by promoting active travel modes.
Traditionally, non-infrastructure transport measures have been secured using a Residential Travel Plan (RTP). This requires the developer to implement, manage and monitor a package of site-specific measures for a minimum 5-year period.
Policy context
Travel Plans are a key part of the government’s policies on sustainable transport. The primary planning policy regarding Travel Plans is included in section 9 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) (2021).
Bracknell Forest’s Core Strategy Policy CS6 states that development will be required to mitigate its impact on the transport network through financial contributions or in-kind provision. CS23 states that the council will promote travel planning to make sure development sufficiently considers accessibility and sustainable transport planning.
An alternative for developers
We believe greater benefits are achievable by implementing a joined-up approach to residential travel planning, with the council taking responsibility for delivering a consistent package of measures across new and existing developments. Residents will benefit from a wide range of measures, while the long-term commitment to promoting sustainable travel for a site will be the responsibility of the council.
This page sets out the options a developer can now choose when considering how to deliver sustainable transport measures for their site.