“It’s all change for transport at new residential and commercial developments” says Steve Bates, Associate Director at our Birmingham office.
Steve started at PJA in 2013 when there were just 12 employees in the company. 9 years on and Steve now heads up our Midlands’ development planning team along with fellow Associate Director Chris Stack.
The team support developers’ planning needs by identifying appropriate transport strategies, access solutions; and providing support through the planning application process, with Transport Assessments and Travel Plan led solutions to help secure planning permissions.
Steve recalls how only a few years ago they would have demonstrated how increasing highway capacity, via junction upgrades and the provision of new link roads was the way to unlock development, but, with the introduction of new policies in favour of more sustainable modes of transport including the LTN 1/20 guidance, and increased scrutiny on air quality impacts, his team instead help developers demonstrate how cycling and walking infrastructure can reduce traffic on roads.
“Consistently increasing highway capacity wasn’t a sustainable direction so it makes sense that policy is changing in favour of developments with less priority for cars and more provision for cycling and walking, as well as public transport.” Steve says.
“Schemes now face scrutiny under LTN 1/20 standards, with Active Travel England set to become a statutory consultee with responsibility for ensuring that pedestrians and cyclists are properly accommodated, rather than being an afterthought. Many authorities, with our help, are developing transport and movement strategies that prioritise active travel and public transport, and it’s been a noticeable change in the industry since I started my career in 2006. So, developers need to take this shift in policy seriously.”
PJA has long been ahead of the curve with the shift to sustainable transport planning, largely thanks to our Chairman Phil Jones who has helped bring about several active travel policies including the landmark LTN 1/20. PJA is also part of the consultancy team assisting Active Travel England. We therefore understand the challenges faced by developers, helping them shape their approach to active travel to navigate the planning process.
We are adopting alternative approaches on a number of projects, contact Steve to find out more: [email protected]
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Steve Bates, Associate Director
Steve is a Transport Planner with 14 years’ of experience, specialising in the planning and delivery of regeneration and development sites. He has worked with a number of private and public sector clients providing transport planning advice on various residential, commercial and educational schemes.
His experience includes the production of Transport Assessments, Travel Plans, access feasibility and design, negotiating S106 Agreements, masterplanning input and a range of technical advice.
BA (Hons)
