Transport is still responsible for almost a quarter of carbon dioxide global emissions† and the appetite to make big changes in sustainable development have picked up pace.
Events like COP27 have brought the climate change agenda even more front and centre with strongly worded reminders for humanity to ‘co-operate or perish’‡ being shared throughout the media prompting house buyers and businesses to place sustainability firmly on their list in what they look for in a ‘place’.
So how are developments likely to change to be more sustainable, and how can we provide the facilities people need now and future proof for the changes to come?
Flexible Parking Spaces
The relationship with the private car is set to change. In the next decade the shift from human-driven cars to autonomous vehicles will change the way in which we design places for people to live and work. An interconnected network of vehicles could replace most private transportation, and some public transport.
One of the biggest advantages of autonomous vehicles is their efficiency. Using real time tracking systems they will avoid congestion and use the more fuel efficient routes. And, whereas private cars largely lay dormant on driveways or in car parks for most of the day, an autonomous network could enable every car to be used for longer.
This network would negate the need for ‘two parking spaces per plot’ for each home and large expanses of car parking at places of work would be a thing of the past.
One way we are supporting developers to future proof for this is advising on adaptable parking spaces should demand reduce over time due to less direct car ownership. One allocated space per unit on average strikes a balance between the current appetite for parking and the impending change.
Flexibility for additional car ownership can be accommodated in ‘Car Barns’. These parking hubs offer the ability to securely store a second family vehicle in a central location within walking distance of the home. Once the impending changes reduce the need for car parking, the Car Barn can be repurposed, perhaps for a community space, park or for more homes.
Mobility Hubs
We’re supporting developers to produce adaptable ‘Mobility Hubs’: a central location within a development that provides multiple options for travel. Mobility Hubs not only serve as an interchange but also aim to improve the public realm by reducing car-dominated places, offer a community space and provide a logistics function such as parcel collection.
When integrated effectively into the local transport network and situated in locations that are convenient and align with local patterns of movement, mobility hubs can create positive behaviour change by encouraging people to think multi-modally and undertake multipurpose trips.
Whilst autonomous network options are developed, additional car usage can be accommodated through local car clubs housed within Mobility Hubs. Once the network is established, the Mobility Hub can then become a central location that supports the network for that area.
Parklets
Parklets offer up the opportunity to reallocate road space from on-street parking to community and sustainable transport uses.
Mobility hub parklets can accommodate a range of uses, for example, outdoor seating for local businesses, cycle parking, cycle and scooter hire hubs and electric vehicle charging points.
This type of road space reallocation can both support the local economy and support sustainable travel, whilst also improving the visual appearance of the street through the provision of planting and providing a sense of community.
Liveable Neighbourhoods
Creating sustainable places to live which support people to live and work within a localised area reduces the need to travel and the impact on the environment from transport. More and more, home buyers are looking for a place to live that offers a local community and a way of life that can be accessed by walking or cycling and not dependant on the private car.
We’re supporting clients to future proof developments by assessing existing travel patterns and comparing them to predicted travel behaviour. Considering future transport trends, we advise on what are the most valuable assets to a particular new development and how to design that place to become a vibrant community ready for future transport changes.
The future
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.
We support development with innovative cost-effective transport, engineering and placemaking solutions. These solutions not only provide for the now, but also plan for future needs.
As the pledged date for the UK to be net zero by 2050 gets closer, and with the climate change agenda consistently at the forefront, we understand the challenges faced by developers and are supporting them to shape their approach to future development.
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† BBC News, What can I do to curb climate change?, 7th November 2022
