Government guidance to help planners cut transport emissions

New Government guidance should help planners cut transport emissions, improve air quality and work towards climate change targets.

Low Emissions Strategies: Using the planning system to reduce transport emissions outlines how the planning system can be used to reduce emissions from transport and improve air quality. It recognises that air pollution and greenhouse gases are both caused by emissions, and encourages local authorities to tackle the two together.

The document describes typical measures included in low emission strategies and presents some current examples from 'beacon councils'. It also contains ideas on how to link this approach with transport assessments.

The guidance points out that the transport sector 'is by far the most common cause for the declaration of air quality management areas and is the only sector where carbon dioxide emissions continue to increase'.

Low emission strategies can reduce transport emissions by accelerating the uptake of low emission fuels and technologies in and around a new development, and can promote a shift away from car travel.

The guidance complements a number of national planning policy and transport planning documents, including Planning Policy Statement 23: Planning and Pollution Control. Low emissions strategies must be consistent with these. 

Although aimed at local authorities, the guide could also help campaigners press councils to take action.

Reproduced with permission from the April 2010 issue of Fieldwork,
CPRE's member newsletter

Fiona Cowan
13 May 2010