On the first few days outside the European Union, let’s take a moment to consider our national environmental policy, more specifically the recently published “Environmental Bill.” So, what is the Government’s Environmental Bill?
What is a Workplace Parking Levy? A Workplace Parking Levy (WPL) is a licensing scheme for active workplace parking places. It charges employers and education organisations for the number of parking places they provide that are regularly used by employees, students or others. Employers can choose to pay the charge themselves, or they can pass it down to their employees.
Discrepancies between guidelines of various sources regarding the appropriate standards of ramps for highways and accesses can be confusing. This is the case for permissible gradients, maximum rises and the landings criteria for ramps. There is, of course, a relationship between the length of a ramp and the gradient that people can manage; the longer the ramp the less severe the gradient required. Here we look at the variations and clarify the standards to help you with future assessments and developments.
Plans to cut air pollution and unsafe conditions for pedestrians and cyclists around schools are being shared across the UK by Hackney Council. The aim is to help other councils to replicate its successful School Streets scheme by taking them step-by-step through the process.
The use of vegetation in urban areas is often discussed as a potential solution to poor air pollution. However, it is a contentious issue and, if poorly conceived, it can make matters worse. In April 2019, the Greater London Authority (GLA) published a welcome and comprehensive guidance document on this topic.
A View on the Surge in B8 Warehousing and its Impact on Transport
A £6 million fund is now open for bids from London boroughs, to help them tackle air pollution. This is the third and final round of the Mayor’s Air Quality Fund (MAQF). The MAQF amounts to a £20 million fund, over 10 years, forming part of the Transport for London’s Business plan. The fund is in place to support London boroughs with projects to improve air quality in local pollution hot spots. This round of bids will provide £6 million over three years, starting in April 2019. The deadline for applications is 11th January 2019.
New figures from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that the number of local bus passenger journeys in England fell 1.4% to 4.38 billion in the year ending March 2018, compared with 2016/17. It was a similar story for the previous year, which showed a 1.5% fall to 4.44 billion passenger journeys compared with the year 2015/16. George Stow at Mayer Brown has looked at why this is happening and what it means for rural communities and the environment.
Healthy Streets is a Big Idea that is set to change the streets of London promoted by Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, the Healthy Streets Approach puts people, and their health, at the heart of decision making. Walking, cycling and public transport are prioritised, in order to create a healthier city. This is set to change the future direction of transport planning and urban design for the capital.
A draft of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published in March. This new framework is set to bring a few changes to some aspects of transport planning, urban regeneration and environmental assessment. We’re going to have a look at some of those changes and the effect they may have on our wide-ranging projects with diverse clients. We’ll also highlight where the NPPF remains the same, so that you don’t have to wonder about looming modifications when you’re at the initial stages of transport planning and urban renewal.
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