experience

masterplanning, design review, design coding and development management

• Masterplanning.

  We supported Eco-Responsiveenvironments in the design of their double award winning Heath Park Masterplan in Runcorn, proposing a network of play streets, a new local centre incorporating a cinema, vertical garden and a market square, and Dutch-style cycling infrastructure.

  For the 5,000 dwelling Hanwood Park development in Kettering, ActivePlanning continues to support the client in agreeing and scoping the concept design for a network for walking and cycling to Kettering Town Centre and key employment areas such as the hospital. We anticipate this process will continue into the detailed application stage.

  ActivePlanning helped Tibbalds to be a close runner up in the design of the Letchworth Garden City urban extension corridor. The concept of a ‘merit based’ transport accessibility approach was introduced - making the most sustainable modes the most convenient readily accessible options, with walking and cycling being the most convenient followed by public transport and car clubs, and then private vehicles.

  For three towns in Ireland, ActivePlanning provided network analysis and outline design services for Hegsons Design Consultancy Limited, establishing high level principles. We continue to advise on active travel to support the smaller masterplans coming forward from the strategic plans.

• Design Review

  Richard has been an active member of two DRPs in Essex since 2019, providing specialist knowledge of how to create active travel, ‘low-car’ neighbourhoods of up to 1,500 homes, shops and services.

• Design support

  For Luton Borough Council, ActivePlanning has worked on the client side, drawing early concept ‘briefing’ drawings for the Council’s term consultant and then reviewing initial design drawings.

  An iterative process of design and review is being followed so the council is able to present developed drawings to Active Travel England for further improvement or funding sign-off.

• Design coding (new)

  ActivePlanning will draw on Richard’s experience as a design reviewer of masterplans, major planning applications and active travel infrastructure as well as older experience to develop a Design Coding service. He is currently attending courses and reviewing the pathfinder design codes (thanks to Urban Design London).

• Development Management Consultee service (new)

  ActivePlanning will draw on Richard’s experience in development management and as a design reviewer of masterplans and major (pre) planning applications. Reports will be prepared in the Authority’s preferred format. When necessary specialist engineers are brought on board to provide detailed responses. ActivePlanning can also attend pre-application meetings online or in person. Matters covered include pedestrian networks, cycle infrastructure and cycle storage. The service is not available if Active Travel England is already engaged and working with the authority as consultees - however, ActivePlanning can assist the authority in their discussions with ATE. The onus for compliance with LTN1/20 and ATE’s requirements remains with the local planning authority.

  This service also extends to drafting consultation responses for community organisations. Examples include Totton Town Council’s response to Hampshire County Council’s Waterside Transport Strategy, and Rushmoor Cycling Forum’s response to proposals for ‘difficult places’ in their draft LCWIP.

planning and transport policy and strategy, design guidance, local cycling and walking infrastructure plans, funding bids.

ActivePlanning provides policy, strategy and funding bid services for local authorities. Services and experience include:

• Planning and transport policy and strategy.

  ActivePlanning’s input may be separately commissioned or as part of a wider team of specialists. Richard is a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and has extensive past experience of policy preparation, including success at two Examinations in Public.

• Design guidance.

  ActivePlanning provides outline design guidance in LCWIPs and for masterplans and design codes. Specialist guidance can also be developed to suit local requirements. Whilst Government Guidance should be followed in detailed design, the outline guidance provides a starting point to ensure proposed schemes ‘fit’ the available envelope.

• Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans.

  ActivePlanning has prepared LCWIPs for the Isles of Scilly, Wellingborough, and Buckden Parish Council and supported LCWIPs prepared by WSP in Corby and Kettering.

  Between 2019 and 2022, ActivePlanning was sub-contracted by Cycling UK to work with WSP, Mott, Sustrans and Living Streets to provide support for the first 20 ‘pilot’ LCWIPs in the country. Our contribution was to provide document review and in-person support services to local authorities preparing their LCWIPs. The DfT’s requirements later expanded to include assessment of (Emergency) Active Travel Fund bids and more intensive support including LCWIP drafting.

  LCWIPs are normally prepared using Active Travel England’s Propensity to Cycle Tool and local data for walking. However for most LCWIPs we prefer to work with technical engineering consultants who provide more in-depth data analysis and GIS services.

• Funding bids.

  ActivePlanning provides board-level inputs and narrative support to deliver winning funding bids. If required, we can sub-contract specialists to provide technical inputs. In 2013/14 and 2017, ActivePlanning’s strong sub-editing of technical funding bids for Kingston and Inverness resulted in £30m and £6.5m funding respectively. In Kingston’s case, the funding was won against competition from 24 other boroughs.