Planning application - local requirement
When the requirement applies
In accordance with Placemaking Plan Policy ST7, planning applications for developments that generate significant levels of movement should be accompanied by a Transport Assessment, or Transport Statement, in accordance with the National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance. Schemes will be expected to be tested through the council’s transport modelling, as necessary.
If you are unsure whether your development would generate significant levels of movement, you should consider using our Pre-Application planning advice services
Please note that any development requiring a Transport Assessment is likely to also need a Travel Plan.
What the Assessment should include
You should take into account the guidance in our Transport & Development SPD (2023) when preparing your Transport Assessment. Your Assessment must adopt the “Decide and Provide” analysis approach, and we recommend that you agree in advance the scope of any work. The scope could include the following:
- An overview of the proposed development
- Consideration of the cumulative impacts as a result of committed development
- An analysis of existing access and transport conditions, and how the development will affect those conditions (for example, the proportion of site users who are walking/driving/taking public transport to and from the site)
- Any measures proposed to overcome any current or anticipated transport problems, and improve access to public transport (such as pedestrian / cycle routes, and bus infrastructure)
- A review of pedestrian and wheeled access
- A completed Active Travel Checklist for the development, as required by the Transport & Developments SPD
- All existing and proposed residential vehicle movements to and from the site
- Access arrangements for manoeuvring and parking of service vehicles
- Testing of the scheme’s likely transport impacts through the use of appropriate modelling tools
- Evidence to support the proposed level of cycle and car parking
- Consideration of construction phase impacts