Residential travel plans
A residential travel plan is a package of measures that helps to reduce vehicle journeys from new housing developments.
They do this by encouraging residents to walk, cycle or use public transport for their journeys.
As well as helping new communities be healthier and safer, other benefits include cutting congestion, reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality.
Around Your Way
We create residential travel plans in association with Travelwest as part of an initiative called Around Your Way.
This supports people moving into a new home as this is an opportunity for them to try new ways of getting around.
The initiative is tailored to each development and is dependent on available funding. It can include:
- developer contributions through the planning application process
- working in partnership with Department for Transport (DfT) funded behaviour change programmes such as Access West and the Capability Fund
- working with our other relevant teams such as road safety
Depending on funding and availability the support we provide can include:
- Guides on local walking and cycling routes, public transport facilities and local amenities such as shops, parks and community facilities
- on-site travel services and events such as bike servicing and marking days, adult cycle training
- resident travel surveys to monitor the effectiveness of the travel plan
- a range of free offers including bike loans, bus taster tickets, adult cycle training and personalised travel planning
- DfT funded free travel offers for all residents
- Smarter Travel vouchers to help people buy what they need to support their choice of active or sustainable travel
More about Smarter Travel vouchers
We operate Smarter Travel voucher schemes for those developments where we are the travel plan coordinators.
They are funded by the housing developer and offered to all households on a development. They are normally sent out by letter and reminders will be posted if the vouchers are not claimed.
The vouchers enable residents to claim back up to £150 for items purchased such as outdoor clothing, accessories and equipment for walking and cycling, maps, bus and train season tickets and car club memberships.
Details of which items are eligible and how to claim the costs back are provided with the voucher. Only one voucher claim can be made per household, contact us at the email address below for full terms and conditions.
Use the links to the specific housing developments below where vouchers have been provided.
For more information about the Smarter Travel scheme, contact travel.planning@southglos.gov.uk
New housing developments
We have been appointed by several developers to deliver residential travel plans on their behalf for new housing developments in South Gloucestershire.
You can find Travelwest’s information on the travel plans being delivered in these developments:
- Abbotscroft, Hanham
- Blackberry Park, Coalpit Heath
- Charfield Gardens, Charfield
- Lyde Green
- Morton Meadows, Thornbury
- North Yate New Neighbourhood, Yate
- Saxon Gate, Wickwar
- The Orchards, Thornbury
- Thornbury Fields, Thornbury
The Department for Transport has recognised our residential travel planning in their transport in rural areas local authority toolkit under new development.
We also monitor other travel plan coordinators in our area to make sure that travel plans are being delivered efficiently and effectively.
Contact
For more information about a travel plan relating to a planning application email dctransport@southglos.gov.uk
For general information about travel plans or to find out more about how we can support your organisation email travel.planning@southglos.gov.uk