What is Transport Planning?

Transport Planning is a core component of development planning, ensuring that new homes, commercial spaces, schools, and other land uses are safely and sustainably connected to the wider transport network. It bridges the gap between design aspirations and practical movement, influencing not only how people travel but also whether development is viable in the first place. At Paul Basham Associates, we have over two decades of experience providing expert transport planning support across the UK. From small residential schemes to strategic masterplans, we deliver integrated, forward-thinking solutions that unlock development and enhance communities. Our team works closely with developers, architects, planning consultants, and local authorities to produce high-quality, evidence-based advice that helps secure planning consent, manage risk, and bring sites forward for delivery.

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Why is Transport Planning Important?

From the earliest stages of site promotion through to planning submission and delivery, Transport Planning influences whether a proposal is viable, deliverable, and ultimately approvable. Without a clear transport strategy, even the most well-designed scheme can face resistance, delays, or outright refusal.

At its core, transport planning ensures that new development can be safely accessed, that it integrates with the local network, provides real opportunities to travel sustainable and that its transport impacts are fully understood and appropriately managed. It also provides the evidence base that local authorities rely on when assessing whether a scheme complies with national and local policy; particularly around sustainable transport, capacity, and road safety.

The importance of early transport input cannot be overstated. Getting access arrangements right at the outset avoids costly redesign later down the line. Accurate trip generation and distribution assumptions shape whether junction upgrades are needed or whether existing infrastructure can accommodate the development. And by identifying mitigation measures early, transport planners can help de-risk the application process, saving both time and money. This means we are also able to help advise clients on likely future contributions and how that can impact their project budgets.

Transport planning also ensures developments are future-proof. With increasing emphasis on sustainable travel and decarbonisation, proposals must show how they support walking, cycling, public transport, and electric vehicle infrastructure.

In short, transport planning is not just a tick-box exercise for planning. It’s a critical part of shaping successful, efficient, and policy-compliant development.

Key Elements of Transport Planning

A successful development relies on well-considered transport inputs across a range of areas. At Paul Basham Associates, we work with project teams to ensure that each of these elements is addressed robustly and in line with policy and design standards—ultimately supporting a smoother path to planning approval.

Access
Access is often the starting point. Whether a site fronts a rural lane or a busy ‘A’ Road, safe and suitable access must be demonstrated. We assess visibility splays, vehicle turning paths, and junction design to ensure they meet highway requirements and reflect the expected vehicle types as well as considering access opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists. This is especially important at pre-application stage, where early agreement on access principles can significantly reduce risk.

Accessibility
Beyond the red line, we also consider how well the site connects to walking, cycling, and public transport networks. Demonstrating good accessibility, or identifying opportunities for improvement, is a key part of aligning with sustainability policies. We regularly advise on measures such as new footways, crossings, or bus stop enhancements to support active and low-carbon travel choices. When reviewing accessibility we consider national and local guidance including LTN 1/20 and guidance from the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation.

Layout
Internally, we advise on layouts to ensure that streets, footways, and parking areas are designed with movement and safety in mind. A well-structured layout will not only support adoption or compliance with design guides like Manual for Streets, but also deliver a better user experience for residents, and visitors.

Servicing
The servicing strategy is another crucial consideration, particularly for apartments, retail units, or logistics development. We use swept path analysis (sometimes called vehicle tracking) to ensure delivery and refuse vehicles can safely access and manoeuvre within the site, without disrupting day-to-day activity or compromising safety.

Parking
Parking provision must strike a balance between policy compliance, user needs, and the nature of the site. We advise on the appropriate level and layout of car and cycle parking, ensuring that it’s usable, accessible, and supports wider transport objectives, such as EV charging and car club spaces where appropriate.

Trip/Traffic Generation
All of this is underpinned by a clear understanding of trip generation, how many vehicle, pedestrian, and cycle trips a development will produce, and how these trips will interact with the surrounding network. We use TRICS data and other industry-standard tools to build robust forecasts, which in turn inform our assessment of impact and any mitigation needed.

When mitigation is required, we provide detailed advice on both junction improvements and active travel enhancements. This might involve signal upgrades, new turning lanes, or pedestrian crossing points. Equally, it could mean funding towards cycle infrastructure, travel behaviour change initiatives, or improved connections to public transport. We work with local authorities to agree proportionate, deliverable mitigation that supports the development and benefits the wider area.

What challenges do you face? 

Transport planning in a development context comes with its own set of challenges, many of which extend beyond the technical work itself. While the core principles of access, capacity, and sustainability remain constant, each project presents unique constraints, sensitivities, and stakeholder expectations that must be carefully managed.

One of the biggest challenges is timing. Transport planning is often most effective when it’s brought in early, at concept or pre-application stage, yet it’s not uncommon for it to be considered too late in the process. This can lead to layouts that don’t support safe access, designs that fail to consider trip impacts, or missed opportunities to build in sustainable transport from the outset. When transport input is reactive rather than proactive, it tends to result in rework, negotiation delays, and increased cost.

There’s also the challenge of perception. Local communities and decision-makers are often highly sensitive to transport impacts, particularly traffic, parking, and road safety. Even modest schemes can attract strong objections if there’s a belief that the local network can’t cope. A key part of our role at Paul Basham Associates is presenting clear, credible evidence that puts concerns into context, demonstrates mitigation, and supports balanced decision-making.

Policy is another evolving area. With increased emphasis on decarbonisation, sustainable travel, and place-making, transport planning is no longer just about vehicles, it’s about enabling modal shift and contributing to wider environmental goals. While these shifts bring exciting opportunities, they also demand a more creative and joined-up approach, particularly where sites are in semi-rural or car-dependent locations.

Yet within these challenges lie opportunities. Early-stage involvement allows us to shape access strategies, layout design, and mitigation in a way that reduces risk, improves user experience, and aligns with the expectations of planning officers and highway authorities. It also ensures that transport planning becomes an enabler of good development, rather than a constraint.

Why Choose Paul Basham Associates for your Transport Planning Needs? 

At Paul Basham Associates we bring a practical, solution-focused approach to transport planning that’s grounded in real development experience. We understand the pressures that come with securing planning permission, tight timeframes, competing priorities, and the need for commercially viable outcomes, and we tailor our advice to meet those challenges head-on.

Our team has supported thousands of projects across the UK, ranging from small infill sites to major urban extensions covering all land uses. We work closely with developers, architects, planning consultants, and local authorities to deliver transport strategies that are robust, policy-compliant, and designed to unlock development. We provide clear, actionable advice backed by detailed technical work and strong local knowledge.

We pride ourselves on being proactive collaborators. We integrate seamlessly with wider project teams, use the latest tools and modelling software to test proposals thoroughly, and maintain strong relationships with highway authorities across the country. Just as importantly, we bring consistency and clarity to the planning process, helping our clients make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary delays.

Ready to get started? Contact Paul Basham Associates today to ensure your development is underpinned by expert transport planning advice that’s clear, credible, and built around getting you the planning result you need. 

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