10.14 SCC has produced 'Travel Planning Guidance'[1] and this has been offered to Local Planning Authorities as a basis for adoption as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as part of the Council's development plan. Key elements of this guidance have been taken on board in producing the Travel Plans Policy TA4.

10.15 To reinforce the measures in Policies TA1 and TA2, dependent on the scale of the development, one of 3 types of Travel Plan (a Measures-only Travel Statement, or a Travel Plan Statement or a Full Travel Plan) should be in place to encourage modal shift, deliver subsequent health benefits from more active travel modes and reduce the impact of congestion.

10.16 The differences between these types of Travel Plan are fully explained in SCCs 'Travel Planning Guidance' and illustrated within this plan by reference to policy TA4, which indicates the different contents required by each type and the thresholds where respective types will apply.

10.17 Policy TA4 is very close to the County Council Travel Plan Guidance, although there are 3 key differences in the interpretation of thresholds and measures. These are:

1. The SCC guidance refers to employee numbers and gives an indicative Gross Floor Area (GFA) equivalent[2]. Predicting the number of employees for a site is extremely difficult. In respect of employment sites Policy TA4 therefore considers the type of Travel Plan required in relation to the Gross Floor Area (GFA) based on indicative employment densities[3].
2. The SCC guidance refers to a parking management strategy and this includes measures such as charging, Controlled Parking Zones and Traffic Regulation Orders[4]. This is too prescriptive as there is a need to ensure flexibility of the respective site and such measures should be determined through negotiation as and when pertinent to that site.
3. SCCs Travel Planning guidance promotes safeguarding measures with bonds and ESCROW accounts[5]. An ESCROW account is where a deposit, usually in this instance money, or possibly a deed, stock, or written instrument is put into the custody of a third party and is retained until the agreed actions have been delivered. SSDC has concerns regarding the additional cost implications for developers and the consequent impact on the viability of a development. An s106 agreement is in itself legally binding and any safeguarding through bonds or ESCROWS should be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and should only be in respect of financial default by a developer.

10.18 SSDC expects concurrence with their interpretation of these thresholds and measures.

10.19 Travel Plans for specific sites shouldn't be seen in isolation. There is greater potential for the delivery of the more significant measures through joint working with other Travel Plans, both new and existing. Travel Plan Forums should therefore be set up to include key stakeholders (developers, public transport, occupiers, employers, residents etc. as well as SSDC and SCC).

10.20 In respect of speculative developments including outline planning applications a Framework or Umbrella Travel[6] Plan to cover the entire development site in accordance with SCCs 'Travel Planning Guidance' should be provided. This also applies to the Yeovil Sustainable Urban Extension for which additional specific measures are included in Policy YV6.

10.21 The following delivery bodies will be key in implementing Policy TA4:

• South Somerset District Council;
• Somerset County Council;
• Town and Parish Councils;
• Developers and Landowners.