Councils are being encouraged to move away from traditional traffic forecasting and adopt a vision-led approach to transport planning, with walking, cycling and public transport prioritised over private motor traffic.
The Government has published revised statutory guidance for local authorities, setting out how transport planning should support more sustainable travel and contribute to net zero objectives, reports the Telegraph.
The guidance calls on councils to move away from the traditional ‘predict and provide’ model, which forecasts future traffic demand and provides road capacity to accommodate it. Instead, authorities are being encouraged to adopt a ‘vision-led’ approach, prioritising sustainable transport options and shaping transport networks around the outcomes they want to achieve.
The updated guidance also introduces a greater emphasis on road user hierarchies, with the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users taking precedence over private motor traffic on certain types of roads. The changes link elements of local transport funding from central government to compliance with relevant guidance.
Published by the Department for Transport (DfT), the guidance says councils should establish hierarchies of different road users for different types of roads.
For streets, the hierarchy should broadly align with the principles set out in the Manual for Streets, which prioritises the needs of people walking and wheeling, followed by cyclists, public transport users and, subsequently, private motor traffic.
The approach is intended to encourage local authorities to consider the needs of different road users when planning and designing transport networks, with greater emphasis on sustainable travel.
The revised guidance has drawn criticism from the Conservative Party, with shadow transport secretary Richard Holden arguing that the approach could restrict local authorities’ freedom to respond to the priorities of their communities. Mr Holden accused the Government of waging a “war on motorists” and raised concerns about the link between government funding and compliance with the guidance, arguing that councils should retain greater discretion over local transport decisions.
He said local authorities should be able to consult residents on their preferred approach to transport, including decisions on cycling infrastructure and pedestrianisation.
The Government’s revised guidance forms part of its wider approach to reducing transport emissions and encouraging more sustainable travel.
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(Picture: Artium Prekmoung)
