Offices.

Morning and evening peak trips, the amount of car parking and whether it encourages driving, cycle parking with showers and lockers, visitor parking and servicing.

• Trip generation from TRICS and staff travel surveys.
• A parking strategy balanced against public transport access.
• Cycle parking and end-of-trip facilities.
• A workplace Travel Plan.

Refurbishing an existing office or changing another building to offices often adds little traffic. Comparing with the existing use keeps the evidence proportionate.

• A Transport Statement or Assessment, depending on floor area.
• A parking strategy against the local standard.
• Cycle parking with showers, lockers and changing.
• A Travel Plan to manage commuting.
• Servicing and refuse arrangements.

A typical case is a three-storey office building on a business park, replacing older, smaller units. The council’s focus is commuter traffic at the morning peak and the number of car parking spaces. We use TRICS for comparable offices, assess the peak hours, propose parking below the maximum standard with EV charging, and support it with a Travel Plan, cycle facilities and links to the bus network.

Offices generate most of their traffic in the weekday peaks, so the morning and evening peak hours are the focus. Hybrid working has reduced daily occupancy at many offices, and recent surveys can show this. Travel Plans are often required above certain thresholds. Where offices are converted to other uses or vice versa, we compare the two to show the net change.

Office schemes in town centres often need little or no car parking, with the case built on walking catchments, bus and rail access and secure cycle storage. On business parks, the parking ratio, EV charging and the bus connection to the nearest town are usually the issues officers focus on. Where an office replaces an industrial use, the change from HGVs to cars and cycles can be a benefit worth setting out.

Concerns usually relate to commuter peak traffic and the level of car parking. A robust Travel Plan, good cycle facilities and evidence of current office occupancy usually address them.

Where the council seeks contributions or monitoring, we agree measures proportionate to the scheme.

We prepare the transport statement or assessment and the Travel Plan, and help design parking and cycle facilities that suit the occupier.

The same questions arise in Scotland and Wales, where they are assessed against NPF4 and Scottish guidance or Planning Policy Wales and TAN 18 rather than the NPPF.

To get a quote, send us:

• The site address or a location plan.
• The floor area, expected staff numbers and parking proposed.
• Any occupier requirements, if known.
• Any pre-application advice or highways comments you already have.