Transport Assessment

When is this required:

Paragraph 118 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that, “All developments that will generate significant amounts of movement should be required to provide a travel plan, and the application should be supported by a vision-led transport statement or transport assessment so that the likely impacts of the proposal can be assessed and monitored”. Planning Practice Guidance (PPG) also states that, “Travel Plans, Transport Assessments and Statements are all ways of assessing and mitigating the negative transport impacts of development in order to promote sustainable development. They are required for all developments which generate significant amounts of movements”.

Developments that would result in a material increase or change in traffic over a level crossing including both vehicular and pedestrian crossings should equally prepare a suitable Transport Assessment.

This requirement need not be limited to Major Development if smaller proposals generate significant levels of movement.

What information is required: 

Where a Transport Statement/Assessment is submitted, it must include Annual Average Daily Traffic flow (AADT) as well as peaks. 

The scope of the Transport Statement/Assessment should be agreed with Devon County Council highways officers before submission. Where the proposed development will also have an impact on the strategic road network, the scope should also be agreed with National Highways before submission.

National Highways requires that planning application submissions comply with the requirements of DfT Circular 01/2022 “Strategic road network and the delivery of sustainable development” when assessing the impacts on the SRN. This includes the requirement to provide a Transport Statement or Transport Assessment alongside a Travel Plan and Construction Traffic Plan, as applicable. Where relevant, in addition to traffic impact, applications are also required to assess the impact of proposals on National Highways assets including, but not limited to, drainage, geotechnical, structures, environmental, technology and lighting.

For applications that propose changes to the existing highway, a Stage 1 or Stage 2 road safety audit will be required in accordance with GG119 – Road safety audit.