Why do I need to build one?
Introduction
Travel Plans are one of the Scottish Government's recommended ways forward to widen travel choice, to reduce reliance on the car, tackle congestion and reduce vehicle emissions. Organisations which develop and implement a Travel Plan can appear more responsible, environmentally aware and business orientated towards staff, customers suppliers and the local community.
The development of a travel plan will support one or more of the following initiatives:
1. Satisfying Planning Conditions
It is becoming increasingly common for planning authorities to ask organisations to develop a Travel Plan to demonstrate how they will minimise the potential traffic impact on their development. Planning authorities can manage future travel to and from development sites through regulatory controls including Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 'Section 75' agreements which enable planning authorities to agree development or expansion of an organisation's premises subject to certain terms and conditions.
2. Scotland's Transport Policy
Building on the Scottish Government's National Strategic Objectives: a wealthier, fairer, healthier, safer and stronger, smarter, greener Scotland and its commitment to sustainable development, the National Transport Strategy aims to deliver the following strategic outcomes:
- Improve journey times and connections between our cities and towns and our global markets to tackle congestion and provide access to key markets
- Reduce emissions to tackle climate change
- Improve quality, accessibility and affordability of transport, to give people the choice of public transport and real alternatives to the car.
3. Regional Transport Policy
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) covers an area comprising of 2.14 million people that powers more than 42% of the Scottish economy. The Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) for the Strathclyde area sets out the actions and projects needed over the next 15 years to make sure the region's transport systems and networks can help achieve a better quality of life for people in the West of Scotland.
The RTS objectives which contribute towards the National Transport Strategy Objectives and National Strategic Objectives are:
- Safety and security - To improve safety and personal security on the transport system
- Modal Shift - to increase the proportion of trips undertaken by walking cycling and public transport
- Excellent Transport System - To enhance the attractiveness reliability and integration of the public transport network
- Effectiveness and efficiency - To ensure the provision of effective and efficient transport infrastructure and services to improve connectivity for people and freight
- Access for all - To promote and facilitate access that recognises the transport requirements for all
- Environment and Health - To improve health and protect the environment by minimising emissions and consumption of resources and energy by the transport systems
- Economy, Transport and Land Use Planning - To support land use planning strategies, regeneration and development by integrating transport provision.
4. Local Policy
At a local level transport policy is governed by the Local Transport Strategies (LTS) developed by the Local Authorities.
The LTS process recognises that without the implementation of combative measures to reduce car use and support sustainable travel, the continued growth of the local economy and associated forecasts for traffic growth, are likely to result in growing problems in terms of environment, congestion and accidents.
Local Authorities recognise the important role that walking, cycling and public transport can play in developing safe and accessible communities and improved environments. Accessible, sustainable travel can help link communities with local services including hospitals, medical practices, leisure facilities, shops and schools.
5. Business Efficiency
Developing a Travel Plan can improve customer access and reduce costs.
- Human Resources - being a more responsible employer can have benefits in the recruitment and retention of staff
- Transport Costs - by minimising business travel
- Less car parking spaces can reduce capital, management and maintenance costs, and make the land for something else
- A healthier workforce means less staff absence.
Travel Plans may be implemented to enhance your organisation's image. Your organisation may wish to improve public relations and show that you are a conscientious employer by demonstrating your commitment to Sustainable Development. Within the context of the shifting culture towards sustainability there are increasing concerns for environmental, social and economic issues.
6. Environmental Responsibility
Travel Plans can reduce the environmental impact of your organisation's activities. Reducing travel reduces air and noise pollution, and traffic congestion.
Many organisations audit their environmental management through the ISO14001 scheme. This is an award which applies to standards of environmental improvements which the organisation can control. Transport plays an important role in most business activities and may, particularly in the service sector, represent one of the operation's main environmental impacts. Developing a Travel Plan is an important contribution to ISO14001 and other environmental management systems.
7. Social Responsibility
People are increasingly questioning the environmental and social ethics of an organisation.
- Corporate Social Responsibility - Includes looking after how your staff travel to and from work
- Investors in People - This national standard sets good practice for improving performance through employees. It requires employers to take specific actions to support and develop their employees. The widening of travel choices and the processes involved could motivate and support employees
- Work Life Balance - Tele-working and flexible and compressed hours not only help employees to better manage their work and home commitments. This can also reduce the amount of travel and peak period travel
- Equal opportunities - Free car parking is common but it is hardly equitable. It is a benefit to car users which is not available for non car users
- Social inclusion - A Travel Plan will help to ensure that your development is accessible to all.
8. Documents To Refer To When Writing Your Travel Plan
- National Planning Framework
- Scottish Planning Policy 11: Open Space and physical activity
- Planning Advice Note 65: Planning and open space
- National Physical Activity Strategy - Let's make Scotland more active', 2003
- Physical Activity workforce development plan
- Healthy Working Lives
- Active Travel Scotland
- Active Schools. Workplaces, homes and communities
- 'Changing our ways'; Scotland's Climate Change Programme 2006
- Consultation on the Climate Change Bill 2008 Scottish Climate Declaration
