Infrastructure - Promoting Sustainable Transport

1. Proposals to improve, enhance or provide active travel infrastructure, public transport infrastructure or multi-modal hubs will be supported. This includes proposals:

1. for electric vehicle charging infrastructure and electric vehicle forecourts, especially where fuelled by renewable energy
2. which support a mode shift of freight from road to more sustainable modes, including last-mile delivery
3. that build in resilience to the effects of climate change and where appropriate incorporate blue and green infrastructure and nature rich habitats (such as natural planting or water systems)

2. development proposals will be supported where it can be demonstrated that the transport requirements generated have been considered in line with the sustainable travel and investment hierarchies and where appropriate they:

1. provide direct, easy, segregated and safe links to local facilities via walking, wheeling and cycling networks before occupation
2. will be accessible by public transport, ideally supporting the use of existing services
3. integrate transport modes
4. provide low or zero-emission vehicle and cycle charging points in safe and convenient locations, in alignment with building standards
5. supply safe, secure and convenient cycle parking to meet the needs of users and which is more conveniently located than car parking
6. are designed to incorporate safety measures including safe crossings for walking and wheeling and reducing the number and speed of vehicles
7. have taken into account, at the earliest stage of design, the transport needs of diverse groups including users with protected characteristics to ensure the safety, ease and needs of all users
8. adequately mitigate any impact on local public access routes

3. where a development proposal will generate a significant increase in the number of person trips, a transport assessment will be required to be undertaken in accordance with the relevant guidance
4. development proposals for significant travel generating uses will not be supported in locations which would increase reliance on the private car, taking into account the specific characteristics of the area
5. development proposals which are ambitious in terms of low/no car parking will be supported, particularly in urban locations that are well-served by sustainable transport modes and where they do not create barriers to access by disabled people
6. development proposals for significant travel generating uses, or smaller-scale developments where it is important to monitor travel patterns resulting from the development, will only be supported if they are accompanied by a Travel Plan with supporting planning conditions/obligations – travel plans should set out clear arrangements for delivering against targets, as well as monitoring and evaluation
7. development proposals that have the potential to affect the operation and safety of the Strategic Transport Network will be fully assessed to determine their impact – where it has been demonstrated that existing infrastructure does not have the capacity to accommodate a development without adverse impacts on safety or unacceptable impacts on operational performance, the cost of the mitigation measures required to ensure the continued safe and effective operation of the network should be met by the developer

While new junctions on trunk roads are not normally acceptable, the case for a new junction will be considered by Transport Scotland where significant economic or regeneration benefits can be demonstrated.

New junctions will only be considered if they are designed in accordance with relevant guidance and where there will be no adverse impact on road safety or operational performance

Development proposals will contribute to local living including, where relevant, 20-minute neighbourhoods.

To establish this, consideration will be given to existing settlement pattern and the level and quality of interconnectivity of the proposed development with the surrounding area, including local access to:

• sustainable modes of transport including local public transport and safe, high-quality walking, wheeling and cycling networks
• employment
• shopping
• health and social care facilities
• childcare, schools, and lifelong learning opportunities
• playgrounds and informal play opportunities, parks, green streets and spaces, community gardens, opportunities for food growth and allotments, sport and recreation facilities
• publicly accessible toilets
• affordable and accessible housing options, ability to age in place and housing diversity

The Council will, wherever it is feasible and cost effective, strongly encourage the transportation of freight by rail rather than by road.

In cases where this is not possible or feasible, the Council will, where appropriate, encourage and support the development and use of 'off road' haulage routes designed to avoid the transportation of bulk freight through the area's settlements.

The Council will, through the East Ayrshire Recreation Plan, which incorporates the Core Path Plan, and in association with relevant bodies, landowners and tenants, seek to develop a comprehensive local and strategic path route network for access and recreational use for local residents and ensure, where possible that these routes are accessible for all.

Priority will be given to the development and promotion of new circular routes and path links between settlements and that enhance the green network, especially where these connect with existing routes, utilise existing disused railway lines, forestry access roads, minor country roads etc.

Development of new routes for core paths, other paths which form part of the strategic path network, local footpaths, bridle paths or cycle paths should demonstrate to the Council that they will not have an adverse effect on the integrity of a European site and meet the requirements of all relevant LDP policy.

The Council will not be supportive of development which permanently disrupts or adversely impacts on any existing or proposed core path, other paths which form part of the local and strategic path network, including local paths, rights of way, bridle paths, or cycle paths used by the general public for recreational or other purposes. In particular, where the route concerned forms, or has the potential to form, part of the network of circular routes or path links between settlements, actively promoted by the Council.

Where short-term or interim disruption or adverse impacts are demonstrated to be unavoidable, the Council will require developers, as an integral part of the proposed development, to provide for the appropriate diversion (temporary or permanent) of the route in question elsewhere within the development site or to put into place appropriate measures to mitigate and overcome the adverse impact expected.

Note - where a diversion of a core path or other route, either temporary or permanent, is sought as a result of a development proposal, a Stopping Up Order (SUO) will be required in accordance with section 208 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 or, in the case of a core path, the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003.

The need for a SUO should be identified by a developer at an early stage in the development process. The SUO process, which involves a public consultation should be initiated at an appropriate stage in the development process and an Order approved prior to any development taking place.

All new development will be required to provide low or zero-emission vehicle and cycle charging points in safe and convenient locations, in alignment with building standards.

Developers should engage with electricity providers to ensure that the entire electricity supply infrastructure will have sufficient capacity to enable all charge points to operate simultaneously or the ability to deploy a Smart EV Charging solution at the development in conjunction with the Electricity Network Operator. The developer will be required to meet the cost of any upgrades needed.

Hydrogen charging spaces should be provided where there will be demand from end users of the development.

Further guidance on Electric Vehicle Charging requirements and how these should be implemented will be provided in Energy and Electric Vehicle Charging Supplementary Guidance.