A study of transport planning practice in large scale housing developments in England

Transport Planning Practice has a crucial role to play in helping to realise sustainable housing developments where residents have the opportunity to use sustainable transport; public transport, cycling and walking and shared mobility. This thesis examines transport planning practice in connection with large scale housing developments, those at least 200 dwellings in size, planned, designed and being constructed in England. Accessibility has been a focus as this can be considered to be the main goal of transport planning.

The study has examined a representative sample of 126 planning decisions made in 2013 by Local Planning Authorities in England. The transport-related characteristics of these proposed residential developments have been clarified including their size, their location and the level of funding and type of transport improvements associated with them. An Accessibility Proximity Index (API) model has been developed which can be used through the planning and design process to ensure that a high level of accessibility to local Public Transport, Walking and Cycling facilities can be realised.

Case Study research has then been undertaken based around a significant cluster of the sample of developments in the Exeter Travel to Work Area of Devon between 2018 and 2022 and during construction of houses. Ten case study developments have been considered including a primary set of four case study developments. Evaluation of these developments demonstrates that they are falling well short of the new perspective of transport and sustainable development needed. The research has also demonstrated that accessibility (proximity) changes over time and consideration is needed through the planning, design and construction stages of a scheme. The five ‘E’s of accessibility are identified, to Exact, to Effect, to Enact, to Extend and to Embrace.

Semi-structured interviews have been carried out with 28 senior Transport Planning and Town Planning practitioners working for local authorities and housing developers, some as part of the detailed case study developments and some across England. These interviews led to the identification of a set of wider themes and a set of wider factors identified as the ten ‘L’s that represent the opportunities and constraints that Development Planners work with. A Q Study was undertaken with the Interviewees and this revealed two key factors relating to Accessibility, that one group are Aware of its importance and one group are Reformers. The findings of the Interviews and Q study have given rise to a series of actions that should take place to inform Transport Planning in Large Scale Housing Development moving forward. This has been termed the OPEN agenda and defined as Orientate the Transport Assessment process around Sustainable Accessibility, Persevere with Residential Travel Plans, Ensure investment in Local Authority Officers and Normalise evaluation of sustainable outcomes.

With the aid of theological reflection the basic dimensions of travel, People, Journey and Place have been considered in connection with the practice examined. A set of ten great themes have been identified and this has been aligned with core literature revealing that ‘the progress of time’ is not being sufficiently considered in the topic area. Five values have been identified for the work that is done in transport planning; a theology of transport planning to compliment values that are an outcome of the theology of housing identified in literature. A Christian based organisation is proposed to assist in realising greater sustainability in the built environment. . To the author’s knowledge, this is the first time that practical theology has been used as part of transport planning research and this will bring greater meaning and value to its practice.

Twelve Accessibility Factors have been identified building on literature and categorised into People, Journey and Place and it is considered that these can be the basis for an evaluation framework for Transport Assessment, the main Transport Planning activity carried out for a planning application for a Large Scale Housing Development.