Transport Planners call for stronger integration of the spatial planning process with transport and infrastructure planning in Second National infrastructure Assessment response

The Transport Planning Society (TPS) has urged the National Infrastructure Commission to consider devolution, spatial integration, demand management and investment in active modes as part of its resolutions for current challenges in its National Infrastructure Assessment

The society’s comments were made in its response to the Second National Infrastructure Assessment which will be published in 2023, setting out a plan for the next 30 years of infrastructure investment and strategy.

Tom van Vuren, Director of Policy at the Transport Planning Society, said:

‘As the only professional body focusing entirely on transport planning in the UK, we firmly believe that transport infrastructure should feature in all of the Commission’s strategic themes, not just contribute to levelling up.

‘The Commission should consider the wider role that transport has to play in helping address all the challenges it has identified.

‘Many of the ways of tackling all three challenges necessitates the spatial planning process to work hand in glove with transport planning and infrastructure, which should be effectively recognised in any infrastructure strategy.’

The society’s recommendation to the Commission include:

• A greater emphasis on the role active travel plays in our transport infrastructure network, and its potential contribution to addressing many of the Commission’s challenges
• Shifting tax and spend powers from central to local administrations to address productivity and levelling-up issues
• A comprehensive review of pay-as-you-go road use and parking pricing
• A fundamental review of the transport appraisal and business case system
• Developing the DfT’s local transport plan guidance in unison with the Commission’s assessment to ensure alignment between local, regional and national transport infrastructure planning
• Consideration of the introduction of a concession rail model nationwide, similar to TfL’s, managed by local transport authorities, plus a reform of rail ticketing and fares to reflect the recent change in work and travel patterns
• To consider demand management schemes with accompanying improvements to the sustainable transport network to foster a modal shift and reduce the need for extensive road transport infrastructure investment.

ENDS

Notes to editor

1. For further information contact alex@jfgcomms.co.uk 07445 361254 or jo@jfgcomms.co.uk 07788 131347
2. Transport Planning Society (TPS) is the professional body for transport planners, focusing entirely on transport planning in the UK. It aims to facilitate, develop and promote best practice in transport planning and provide a focus for dialogue between all those engaged in it, whatever their background or other professional affiliation. TPS has over 1,500 individual members and more than 38 Stakeholder members. TPS is supported by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT), the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
3. The Transport Planning Society response to the Second National Infrastructure assessment can be read here: https://tps.org.uk/tps-policy/the-second-national-infrastructure-assessment-call-for-evidence
4. The National Infrastructure Commission Second National Infrastructure assessment : Baseline report can be read here: https://nic.org.uk/studies-reports/national-infrastructure-assessment/baseline-report/
5. Mark Frost, Chair of Transport Planning Society and Tom van Vuren, Director of Policy are available for interview upon request.