Accessibility Planning
It is the ability to gain access to people, goods and services that defines user perceptions of transport systems but levels of access have not traditionally been measured. Unless we manage progress towards measurable accessibility aims we may find that transport investment is inconsistent with people's needs. DHC were one of the pioneers of accessibility planning and modelling within the UK. Our work reviewing accessibility measuring techniques and their application helped the Social Exclusion Unit formulate the concept of "accessibility planning". DHC have subsequently been instrumental in developing national guidance in England and Wales, and actively promote accessibility planning in Scotland.
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Projects
- Consumer needs for access to market based services (2007) – This project for the National Consumer Council investigated how current accessibility planning frameworks might be revised to better improve access to privately provided services.
- Accessibility Modelling in New Zealand (2007) – Together with Steve Abley transport consultancy DHC is identifying how accessibility planning and modeling can best be taken forward in New Zealand.
- Calculation of Core National Accessibility Indicators (2006) - This work for the Department for Transport is calculating accessibility indicators for national priority target groups and trip purposes. The work combines many data sets including public transport, OS Mastermap, education, health, shopping and jobs data.
- Access to Services in East Dunbartonshire (2005) DHC helped the Council to develop plans to improve access to health, work and other services for priority groups within the area. By working within community planning structures for stakeholder involvement the project developed an accessibility plan to tackle current and growing problems.
- State of the Art Review of Accessibility Planning and Modelling (2005) As part of a EPSRC funded social accessibility modelling project led by University of Westminster, DHC undertook a review of accessibility planning and modelling techniques.
- Scottish Household Survey Topic report - Accessibility and Transport (2004-05) (PDF, 108KB) Project for the Scottish Executive with Napier University. Making connections between policy-driven and data-driven approaches to accessibility problems.
- Access to Healthcare in Southport and Formby (2004-5) (PDF, 258KB) This project for Merseytravel and Southport and Formby Primary Care Trust (PCT) identified ways to tackle accessibility and social inclusion in the Southport and Formby area.
- Improving Accessibility and Social Inclusion for Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen Airports (2004) - BAA Scottish Airports commissioned this work as part of their site travel planning to identify how to improve access to employment opportunities and catchments for the airports.
- Cost and Reliability Factors for Accessibility Planning in Greater Manchester (2004) for GMPTE and DfT. This investigated how cost and reliability barriers faced by different groups of people could be considered more effectively in transport and accessibility planning. The work reviewed data sources to identify the barriers and problems, and different ways of tackling identified problems.
- Appraisal of Laurencekirk station reopening (2004) (PDF, 146KB) DHC assisted Scott Wilson in the appraisal of the reopening of this station in Aberdeenshire, by developing an accessibility model for North East Scotland and appraising economic development and accessibility impacts.
- Accessibility audit for public transport plan in Aberdeen (2004) This work, for Aberdeen City Council, examined the accessibility impacts of an interchange at Foresterhill healthcare campus. The accessibility implications of potential changes to bus services and the development of a major new interchange were analysed.
- Access to Food in Knowsley (2004) (PDF, 258KB) This project for Merseyside Future Healthcare Project surveyed the availability of fresh food and mapped accessibility for local residents to these shops.
- Relocation of the Royal Liverpool Hospital (2004) (PDF, 363KB) for North Mersey Future Healthcare project and DfT. The work examined options for hospital relocation by mapping the accessibility of alternative options.
- Developing and Piloting Accessibility Planning (2003-2004) DHC led the development and piloting of accessibility planning in England for the DfT to implement the findings of the Social Exclusion Unit report on "Making the Connections". The work supported the development of guidance for English local authorities on accessibility planning processes.
- Accessibility in the Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) (2003) (PDF, 84KB) Developing guidance on accessibility and social inclusion appraisal within Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG) for the Scottish Executive. The work clarified how accessibility fits within appraisal and, provided examples of best practice in analysing accessibility and distributional issues.
- Rural Access and Lifeline Services in the WESTRANS area (2002-2003) This project with Colin Buchanan and Partners developed a strategy for tackling rural accessibility problems in west central Scotland for the WESTRANS transport partnership.
- Accessibility Analysis for the New Transport Initiative in Edinburgh (2002) This project audited the equity impacts of the road charging proposals in Edinburgh. By looking at geographical areas and people groups affected by the proposals, recommendations were made on the transport projects necessary to deliver a more equitable scheme.
- Development of an Accessibility Model for Strathclyde Passenger Transport Executive (2002) - This project with Steer Davis Gleave assessed accessibility modelling needs for SPT, and specified how these could be met through the development of an accessibility model.
- Planning and Transport in Wales (2001) for the Welsh Assembly Government with Steer Davies Gleave. As part of the development of the national spatial strategy in Wales this research reviewed data availability and accessibility measuring techniques that could be used in land use planning by each tier of government.
- Strategic Accessibility Analysis for the Edinburgh and Lothians Structure Plan (2001) This work was used to define an integrated approach to land use and transport for the new Structure Plan taking account of economic and social policy aims. Quantitative accessibiluty measures were used to compare development locations and transport investment options.
- Rural Accessibility (2001) - This project for the Scottish Executive involved the development of a robust appraisal methodology for rural transport investment through the Rural Transport Funding Initiative and Rural Community Transport Funding Initiative. It involved research to understand rural travel behaviour and identify how practical and affordable improvements can be delivered.
- Review of Accessibility Measuring techniques and their Application (2000) To support the joint needs of the Scottish Executive planning policy and transport policy departments the project reviewed options for measuring accessibility and their implementation in national policy. The work included software development for indicator calculation and preparation of national guidance on accessibility planning techniques.
Features
- November 2005: 10 things you need to know about Accessibility Planning - Accessibility planning - answers to ten simple questions.
- October 2005: Identifying Through Accessibility Planning how Sustainable Growth can be achieved in the Compact City: A case study of Edinburgh - Describes how measures of accessibility have been used in Edinburgh to support sustainable land use planning decisions. The paper explores the relationship between accessibility and travel demand by each mode and considers the circumstances in which improved accessibility by public transport and walking can reduce car use. First presented to the European Transport Conference, Strasbourg.
- 13 April 2005: Scottish Accessibility Briefing 2005 - Seminar presentations covering what accessibility planning is, training and advisory programme, and the future for accessibility planning and modelling in Scotland.
- January 2005: Viewpoint: Accessibility Planning - Now that the national guidance has been finalised, will the new accessibility planning approaches deliver practical change on the ground?
- September 2004: Accessibility Planning - There is nothing unusual in top-level statements about improving accessibility, but rather than accessibility improvements being expressed as broad unmeasurable aspirations the accessibility planning process defines a framework to clarify accessibility goals and manage progress with delivery.
News Releases
- 18 August 2005: Accessibility Analysis Required by New Scottish Planning Policy - The new planning guidance for transport and planning in Scotland, SPP17 and PAN75, strengthens the requirements for accessibility analysis within transport assessments and development plans. Best practice guidance for meeting this requirement was developed by DHC for the Scottish Executive.
Contact
For further information on this topic, or to informally discuss a future project, please contact Derek Halden.
Last updated April 2006 by Tim.