The Transport Planning Society (TPS) has urged the Government to back its proposed vision-led transport planning reforms with clearer policy direction and institutional alignment, warning that without practical guidance the changes risk creating uncertainty rather than accelerating development.
Responding to the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the TPS supports the Government’s ambition to reposition transport as a core component of placemaking and spatial planning, with walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport forming the foundation of sustainable development.
However, the Society cautions that the current draft risks changing the language of policy without reforming the system that delivers it. From the perspective of practitioners working across planning authorities, development planning and infrastructure delivery, the absence of clear operational guidance could increase disputes over interpretation, raise appeal risks, and slow decision-making.
The TPS argues that the shift from traditional “predict and provide” transport planning to a vision-led approach represents one of the most significant changes to the planning system in decades – yet the draft NPPF leaves major questions unanswered about how the new approach will operate in practice.
Without national guidance on evidence requirements, modelling scenarios and decision-making thresholds, practitioners warn the system may default to defensive analysis and parallel assessments. This risks increasing cost and delay for both applicants and planning authorities, undermining efforts to streamline the planning process.
The TPS therefore urges Government to treat transport assessment reform as a programme of systemic change, not simply a change in policy wording.
The Society highlights several areas where the draft policy could have unintended consequences:
- The current definition of “sustainable transport” includes ultra-low emission vehicles and car sharing, which could allow car-dependent development packages to be presented as policy compliant.
- The proposed policy test around “significant movement” risks an increase in dispute and legal challenges unless supported by clear national guidance.
- Vision-led planning will only succeed if Local Plans and Local Transport Plans are aligned, yet these currently operate under different statutory frameworks.
- The draft framework does not fully resolve tensions between national transport policy, the Strategic Road Network operating framework and the planning system.
The TPS also noted that the draft NPPF makes no reference to gender-inclusive mobility or the safety of women and girls, despite recent Government commitments in the national strategy on violence against women and girls.
The Society argues that if planning policy is to prioritise walking, cycling and public transport, it must also address safety and inclusivity in public space so these modes become the default choice.
The TPS supports the Government’s ambition to promote development around railway stations, but warns that proximity alone is not enough. Without safe access, high-quality interchange, strong service connectivity and integrated transport planning, station-led policy risks enabling development that remains car-dependent.
The TPS is calling for stronger coordination between the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Department for Transport and National Highways to ensure transport, infrastructure and planning policy are aligned behind the vision-led approach.
The TPS says the profession stands ready to support this transition, but warns that without clearer guidance and institutional alignment there is a risk that vision-led planning will simply be layered onto existing traffic-based assessment systems rather than replacing them.
(Picture: CU Phosco)
