Policy information sourced from Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan

LP 44 Sustainable Travel Choices

The Council will work in partnership to promote safe, sustainable and accessible transport solutions, which minimise the impacts of development including in relation to congestion, air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, and maximise opportunities including for health benefits and providing access to services, facilities and employment. The Council will:

A. Location of development

Encourage high trip generating development to be located in areas with good public transport with sufficient capacity, or which are capable of supporting improvements to provide good public transport accessibility and capacity, taking account of local character and context.

B. Walking and cycling

Ensure that new development is designed to maximise permeability within and to the immediate vicinity of the development site through the provision of safe and convenient walking and cycling routes, and to provide opportunities for walking and cycling, including through the provision of links and enhancements to existing networks.

C. Public transport

Ensure that major new developments maximise opportunities to provide safe and convenient access to public transport services. Proposals will be expected to support improvements to existing services and infrastructure where no capacity currently exists or is planned to be provided. Protect existing public transport interchange facilities unless suitable alternative facilities can be provided which ensure the maintenance of the existing public transport operations. Applications will need to include details setting out how such re-provision will be secured and provided in a timely manner.

D. The road network

Ensure that new development does not have a severe impact on the operation, safety or accessibility to the local or strategic highway networks. Any impacts on the local or strategic highway networks, arising from the development itself or the cumulative effects of development, including in relation to on-street parking, should be mitigated through the provision of, or contributions towards, necessary and relevant transport improvements. In assessing planning applications the cumulative impacts of development on the transport network will be taken into account. Planning applications will need to be supported by the provision of a Transport Assessment if it is a major development, and a Transport Statement if it is a minor development.

E. River transport

Encourage the use of the River Thames for passenger and freight transport through the protection of, improvement to, and provision of new relevant infrastructure including wharves, slipways and piers.

F. Safeguarding of routes and facilities

Land required for proposed transport schemes as identified in the London Plan and the Council’s Local Implementation Plan for Transport will be protected from developments which would prevent their proper implementation.

Local filling stations and supporting services such as car repair facilities will be protected from redevelopment for alternative uses unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated that warrant their loss.

G. Taxis and private hire vehicles

Ensure that taxis and private hire vehicles are adequately catered for in appropriate locations.

For more information please see the Local Plan