Recommendation 13

HM Government Accepted in Part

The TSC report notes that there should be greater clarity in the draft revised NNNPS on balancing the needs of different travel modes using road space. Witnesses to the TSC’s inquiry raised that the draft revised NNNPS should cite a requirement for cycling provision to be made in accordance with National Highways design standard CD 195 “Designing for Cycle Traffic for motorways and trunk roads”. The government is supportive of improving accessibility for non-motorised users, and the draft revised NNNPS already includes some protections for non-motorised users. For example, paragraph 5.274 states that “the applicant should provide evidence that as part of the project they have addressed any new or existing severance issues and/or safety concerns that act as a barrier to non-motorised users”. In the revised NNNPS, additional text has been added at paragraph 5.271 which requires applicants to “having appropriate regard to policies outlined in existing or emerging local plans, Local Transport Plans, Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans and Rights of Way Improvement Plans where appropriate and applicants should set out agreement on alignment of development proposals to these policies and plans.” Throughout the revised NNNPS, applicants are directed to government policy. Government policy on active travel guidance is Local Transport Note 1/20 which is referenced at endnote 107. Whilst it is noted that other supplementary active travel guidance exists, such as CD 195, the revised NNNPS refers to LTN 1/20 as the government guidance for active travel standards in NSIPs and this is consistent with the approach takes throughout the revised NNNPS.