Using planning agreements to fund transport infrastructure

The use of planning agreements to provide funding for transport improvements required to support development proposals is discussed. The legislation and Government guidance referred to applies to England, but there is similar legislation and guidance applicable to Scotland and Wales. Planning policies since the late 1980s have required developments to be accessible by non-car modes of transport as well as by private vehicles and planning agreements are thus usually used to secure improvements to all transport modes. Planning agreements have been in use since the early 1970s and many agreements have secured highway improvements. These have usually been for single large-scale developments. Securing improvements needed to meet the cumulative impact of a number of developments has not been very successful with the result that many developments cause an impact but the necessary transport infrastructure has to be provided by the transport authorities. New Government advice issued in 2005 has made it clear that standard charges and pooling funding from several developments for the provision of transport infrastructure is acceptable. Some methods have been developed and are reviewed in the paper. Compared with the standard charge methods that have been developed for the provision of open space and educational facilities those for transport lag well behind. The result of this is that much needed funding for transport is not being collected.