PROPOSED SUBMISSION LOCAL PLAN 2006-2028 - Aug 12

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Proposed Submission Local Plan 2006-2028

A Generic District wide Modal Shift Policy

Low Carbon Travel

10.8 These district wide measures are aimed at reducing single car occupancy and the need to travel or encouraging the use of more sustainable travel or alternative fuels where travel is necessary. They include:

a. Providing Good Information
Travel Information Packs[1] detailing:
    • Car share schemes - benefits and how to join;
    • Public transport information - timetable and maps of nearest bus routes and interchanges (including interchange with rail) and details connecting local bus, and longer distance travel such as express coach and trains;
    • Maps showing local footpaths and cycle ways, bus stops, and facilities – health, education, shops, employment, churches, recreation & leisure etc;
    • Details of cycle training, cycle/equipment sales & repairs, cycle clubs, health benefits etc;
    • Information on the health benefits of walking;
    • Benefits and advice on working from home.
The requirement to provide travel information packs should apply to all residential and employment developments.
 
b. Encouraging Electric Car Use
Encouraging the use of electric cars through the provision of a 16 amp charging point (or greater capacity as deemed appropriate) adjacent to each parking space and within the curtilage of the site and also for each garage within the development.
 
The requirement to provide charging points for electric cars should apply to all residential and employment developments
 
c. Incentivising Sustainable Travel
A Green Travel Voucher for use on sustainable transport[2] to an agreed amount per dwelling to be given to each set of occupants at the time of first occupation and repeated for a maximum of 3 tenures per unit up to 5 years following the first occupation of that unit. Similarly for employment sites a Green Travel Voucher should be provided for each employee[3] at commencement of employment. In respect of public transport the vouchers should be non-operator specific and should be available for exchange for passes for one year’s travel on local bus routes, including Demand Responsive Routes within a 10 mile radius of site, but within Somerset (to encourage interchange).
 
The requirement to provide Green Travel Vouchers should apply to all residential and employment developments.
 
d. Home Working
Encouragement to work from home applying to all residential development through improved design commensurate with the type of dwelling and by enabling easer access to Information and Communications Technologies (ICT). These should include:
    • Designed in specific work area (e.g. space to desk, pc, phone);
    • Broadband connections
e. Public Transport
Improved public transport connections should be made by developments in Market Towns, Rural Centres and Rural Settlements increasing accessibility through enhancements to either existing conventional bus routes, existing Demand Responsive Transport Schemes or the provision of new services and new bus stops, bus timetables and bus shelters. The developer to provide funding commensurate with the size of the site that enables good on-going connections with the public transport network and where the scale of new residential development or employment sites would have an impact on existing public transport planning obligations will be sought.
 
f. Travel Planning
Travel Planning measures over and above those measures listed above but commensurate with the site and in relation to land use site thresholds set out in the tables in the Travel Plan Policy TA4.
g. Timing of Provision
Ensuring that sustainable travel habits are established from the start. This means that sustainable transport measures need to be in place and operational concurrent with first occupancy.
 
Policy TA1: Low Carbon Travel

All new residential and employment developments in South Somerset should:

i.   Provide Travel Information Packs;

ii.  Provide for the charging of electric vehicles with an external charging point of at least 16 amps adjacent to each parking space and within the curtilage of the site. Such charging points should also be provided for garages within the development;

iii.  Provide a Green Travel Voucher for each occupier/employee valid for 1 year for use on sustainable transport;

iv.  Include Travel Plans (commensurate with Policy TA4);

v.   Ensure that sustainable transport measures are in place and operational concurrent with first occupancy.

Additionally, developments of all new residential dwellings should:

vi.  Enable ease of working from home by providing a designed in specific work area with broadband connections.

Where the scale of new residential development or employment sites would have an impact on existing public transport planning obligations will be sought to:

vii. Deliver improved public transport connections increasing accessibility through enhancements to either existing conventional bus routes or existing Demand Responsive Transport schemes or the provision of new services and new bus stops, bus timetables and bus shelters. These should be commensurate with the scale of the development that enable good on-going connections with the public transport network. The developer will be required to enter into a planning obligation in accordance with Policy SS6 to ensure provision of such facilities, which shall be provided prior to first occupation of the new development.

Delivery

10.9 The following delivery bodies will be key in implementing Policy TA1:

  • South Somerset District Council;
  • Somerset County Council;
  • Town and Parish Councils;
  • Developers and Landowners.
 
Monitoring Indicators[4] Target
Providing Travel Information Packs   100% of applications with a Travel Information Pack
The provision of charging for electric vehicles 100% of developments to have 1 x 16 amp charging point per parking space
The provision of Green Travel Vouchers The number of Green Travel Vouchers issued should equate to the number occupiers/employees. Take up should be in the region of 20%
The provision of Travel Plans (commensurate with Policy TA4) 100% delivery of appropriate Travel Plans with relevant planning applications
Ensuring that sustainable transport measures are in place and operational concurrent with first occupancy 100% sustainable transport measures are in place and operational concurrent with first occupancy
Enabling home working in residential dwellings 100% of new dwellings providing a designed in specific work area with Broadband connections
Improvements to public transport 100% delivery of appropriate public transport improvements with relevant planning applications
1. Planning for Public Transport in Developments (The Institute of Highways and Transportation) cites lack of information as one of the major barriers to public transport use. Promoting lower carbon transport choices is one of the 3 key themes in the DfT’s - Low carbon Transport a Greener Future (July 2009) [back]
2. May include bus, train travel or cycle purchase [back]
3. Part-time staff and temporary staff with a contract of employment should receive such a voucher on a pro-rata basis, although provision would not be expected for casual staff [back]
4. Monitoring indicators are provided for the plan period only [back]
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