A. The Council will work with others to bring about safe, sustainable, accessible transport solutions to reduce the proportion of trips taken by private car, reduce traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, including carbon dioxide emissions, improve public health, and improve access to services and employment in accordance with the policies set out in the London Plan, Mayor’s Transport Strategy, and the Council’s own Active Travel Strategy. Planning applicants will therefore be expected to:

Location of development

B. Propose major developments (see Table 23.1 for a definition) in areas that either already have a Public Transport Accessibility Level of 4-6 or mitigate the impact of their development on the existing passenger transport network in accordance with Para. 114d of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). The impact of all major developments will be assessed relative to current and forecast capacity and passenger trips on the passenger transport network. Depending on the impact of the development relative to the capacity of the bus and rail network in its final assessment year, this may include applicants making financial contributions to increase capacity and/or improve infrastructure on the passenger transport network.

Active travel

C. Ensure that their proposed developments provide a high-quality walking and cycling environment both within the curtilage of the development and in its near vicinity so that occupants can make short journeys to local town centres, services, and work, by sustainable modes of travel and can benefit from high quality, safe access to public transport services. This may include paying for and completing off-site works on the adopted highway under S278 of the Highways Act 1980 to mitigate the impact of their development. All proposed pedestrian and cycle improvement works must have regard to the National Design Guide, the London Cycling Design Standards, Local Transport Note 1/20: Cycle Infrastructure Design, and Manual for Streets. All off-site highway works must meet technical standards set out by the Council’s Traffic and Engineering team.

Inclusive mobility

D. Ensure that their development proposals provide safe and suitable access to and around their developments for disabled and other vulnerable road users in accordance with guidance set out in Manual for Streets and Inclusive Mobility: making transport accessible for passengers and pedestrians (Department for Transport, 2022).

Assessing the impact of developments

E. Demonstrate that their proposed developments do not a have a severe impact on the operation, safety, or accessibility of the local or strategic road network. Any impact on the local or strategic road network, including the impact of occupants parking vehicles on the carriageway, will need to be mitigated in accordance with para. 110d of the September 2023 NPPF / paragraph 114d of the December 2023 NPPF.

F. All planning applications for major developments will need to include a full transport assessment and travel plan which must be completed in accordance with Transport for London (TfL) guidance. Applications for smaller developments must include a transport statement and travel plan statement, also completed in accordance with TfL guidance (see Table 23.1). Applications under a certain size will be expected to include a chapter about transport and accessibility in their Design and Access Statement.

River transport

G. Where appropriate, enable the River Thames to be used for passenger and freight transport as well as servicing and construction of their development proposals, through the provision, improvement, or retaining of relevant infrastructure including wharves, slipways, and piers.

Safeguarding routes and facilities

H. Where appropriate, ensure that their development proposals safeguard land required for transport schemes and infrastructure set out in the London Plan and/or the Council’s Local Implementation Plan.

Taxis, coaches and private hire vehicles

I. Where appropriate, ensure that taxis, minibuses, coaches, and private hire vehicles can safely pick up and drop off their passengers. Where they have to use the highway to do this, applicants will need to pay the Council to implement Traffic Management Orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and/or may need to complete other highway works. Applicants should only propose using the existing highway for this when no on-site provision is possible.

For more information please see the Richmond Upon Thames Local Plan