Planning – Application Comments

Comment Date: Thu 30 Mar 2023

Condition 5 ' Travel Plan:
Sustainable Transport have reviewed the submitted Travel Plan Statement and would make the following comments:

The Travel Plan relates to an Amazon UK facility located on Thornbury Road in Estover which will be used for storing operational vehicles.

The measures set out in the travel plan are appropriate for a site of this nature, with these being correctly focused on information provision on the benefits of non-car modes of transport as well details of cycling / walking routes and bus services alongside the provision of secure cycle parking on site.

Although on the whole the submitted travel plan is acceptable, there are a couple of areas that need to be addressed before the document could be approved and the associated planning condition discharged.

The points that need to be addressed are:

1. Targets: While the approach of reducing peak hour single occupancy vehicle journeys rather than setting specific mode share targets is one that will work best for a site of this nature there needs to be more information on how the survey of these journeys will be undertaken. There also needs to be detail on how the outcome of the surveys will be reported to the Council following each survey period. Monitoring and reporting will also needed to be included in the action plan which forms Section 6 of the submitted document.

2. Encouraging Car Sharing: Car sharing could be the most effective way to achieve the targets set for the peak hour single occupant vehicle journeys but there is no indication of how car sharing will be promoted. This could be either promotion of journey sharing either informally organised, through work practices or via a car-sharing network such as Liftshare/Car Share Devon.

3. Action Plan: Although this includes the majority of the actions that I would anticipate that would be included based on the proposals in the travel plan there are some omissions that need to be corrected. Including the missing elements outlined below will ensure that these are set out clearly and that any ongoing measures are not overlooked in future years The additional sections that need to be included are:

a. Appointment of the Travel Plan Coordinator

b. Measures to promote the use of car share

c. Monitoring and reporting survey outcomes

The above-mentioned points will need to be addressed before the Travel Plan can be accepted and the associated condition discharged.

Should the applicant wish to discuss the contents of the above response with Sustainable Transport colleagues then they can be contacted direct via travelplans@plymouth.gov.uk



Recommendations:
The Highway Authority are currently unable to recommend the discharge of condition 5 from application 20/00817/FUL for the reasons as set out above.


The proposed development has been considered in accordance with the Councils current Development Plan Policies and having regard for the National Planning Policy Framework.



Abbie Perry

Transport Planning Officer
Officer authorised to sign on behalf of the
Director for Strategic Planning & Infrastructure

29/03/2023