Travel Plan contributions to the BREEAM Assessment

Travel Plan contributions to the
BREEAM Assessment
A New Way To Plan Training Module
Disclaimer: The contents of this module were correct at October 2009.
Policy and guidance may have changed since this time.

The BREEAM Assessment 1
• BRE Environmental Assessment Method, “BREEAM” is the
most widely used environmental assessment method for
buildings.
• It provides a standard for best practice in sustainable design
• The de facto measure used to describe a building's environmental
performance.
• www.breeam.org

The BREEAM Assessment 2
Aims of BREEAM
• To mitigate the impacts of buildings on the environment;
• To enable buildings to be recognised according to their
environmental benefits;
• To provide a credible, environmental label for buildings; and
• To stimulate demand for sustainable buildings.

The BREEAM Assessment 3
• Comprises of a number of schemes including: Education, Retail,
Industrial and Offices
• Credits are awarded for the environmental design of the building
according to:
– Management
– Transport
– Material and Waste
– Pollution
– Health and Wellbeing
– Water
– Land Use and Energy
• Each category consists of a number of issues which seek to
mitigate the impact of a building on the environment.

Benefits of BREEAM
• Promotes the environmental credentials and benefits of a building to
potential purchasers and tenants.
• BREEAM provides:
−Market recognition;
−Assurance of best environmental practice;
−Inspiration to innovate against environmental Impact;
−Tool to reduce running costs, improve environments; and
−Demonstrates progress towards environment and corporate
objectives.

Transport and the BREEAM
Assessment
• The link to sustainability = integration of land-use with transport
planning
• BREEAM identified Transportation issues:
– Public transport network connectivity;
– Proximity to amenities;
– Cyclist facilities;
– Pedestrian and Cyclist safety;
– Maximum car parking capacity; and Travel plans and information.

Case Study:
Office Refurbishment, Swindon
Development Overview:
–Existing office building - 6 storeys;
–Refurbished for continued B1 office use;
–21 on-site car parking spaces;
–Cycle parking provision of 36 spaces (22 spaces required).

Case Study:
Office Refurbishment, Swindon
Development Overview continued:
–Town Centre location;
–Within 100m of the central bus station & 200m of the rail station; and
–Close to local amenities.
–A Travel Plan was not required as part of a planning obligation.

Components of the Travel Plan
Issues demonstrating sustainability
Assessment of:
• Existing and future travel patterns;
• Opinions;
• Existing cycle / pedestrian environment;
• Disabled access; and
• Existing public transport links.

Components of the Travel Plan
Design Parameters
• Dedicated and covered cycle storage
• Shower and changing facilities within the building;
• Transport information to be provided to all new employees, available
from communal areas;

Components of the Travel Plan
Design Parameters 2
• 4 week introductory bus pass with tax free travel to follow;
• Promoting the available bus links and the safe routes to / from the bus
and rail stations; and
• Linking the Travel Plan with the Swindon Workplace Initiative for
Transport (SWIFT).

Benefits of the Travel Plan
• The Travel Plan will:
– Promote alternatives modes;
– Steer building design to incorporate pedestrian and cycle facilities;
– Assist with allocating car parking; and
– Subsequently help reduce car use.
• Measures are used to steer the design of the development in order
to meet the travel plan objectives.

Benefits of the Travel Plan 2
BREEAM supports
• Access to alternative modes;
• Onsite cycle and pedestrian facilities;
• Low level provision of car parking on site; and
• Reduced CO2 emissions from transport for accessing buildings.

Additional Benefits...
• Contribute towards reducing congestion in the wider area;
• Active travel will increase levels of health and well being of staff;
• Deliver environmental objectives;
• Reduce demand for car parking on site;
• Gains accreditation; and
• BREEAM can assist with gaining planning agreement for sites in
areas of contention.

Concluding Comments
• Provides evidence that the accessibility of the site has been
assessed and complies with BREEAM criteria.
• Demonstrates long term commitment to sustainable travel efforts
and commitment to maintaining BREEAM standards.
• Travel plan helps deliver other components of BREEAM.
• Efforts to encourage site access by sustainable travel choices are
visible.

Hotel Developments

Hotel Developments
• Hotel developments in central urban locations are challenged with
design and space issues.
• Main objective: to achieve maximum profitability within the
proposed development area.
• Profitability is gained from the hotel and not the associated car
parking area.
• Over night stay hotel developments favour reduced car parking
strategies.

Travelodge, Basingstoke
Implementing Travel Plans to
Reduce the need for Car Parking
Development Overview
–137 bed hotel;
–45 car parking spaces (138 required);
–16 Cycle parking spaces;
–Town centre hotel;
–within 100m of bus stop;
–Free car parking facility; and
–Shuttle link to the Town centre.

Car Parking Requirements &
Hotel Occupancy
• Basingstoke and Dean Borough Council Maximum parking
standards :
– 1 car parking space per room = 138 spaces
– apply 50% reduction for accessible locations = 69 spaces
• Occupancy levels
– With 100% occupancy, the room occupation by car drivers amounts to
only 29.4%.
– City centre hotel locations average occupancy, between 70% - 80%.

Car Parking Requirements &
Hotel Occupancy
• Occupancy levels
– With 100% occupancy, the room occupation by car drivers amounts to
only 29.4%.
– City centre hotel locations average occupancy, between 70% - 80%.

Car Parking Requirements &
Hotel Occupancy continued.
• 100% occupancy at 29.4% parking demand = 41 spaces
• Average occupancy level of 80% normal parking demand = 33
spaces
• Travel Plan to promote and encourage sustainable travel
alternatives
• Travel Plan aims to reduce reliance on private car

Travel Plans and a Reduced
Car Parking Strategy
• Measures promote and incentivise use of the existing travel
options:
– Allocate car parking for staff
– Priority car share spaces
– Car parking management scheme
– Introductory bus ticket
– Tax free travel on bus services
– Information pack for staff – continual updating,
– Personal Travel Planning
– Guests provided with information at time of booking
• Cost of the Travel Plan over a 5 year period circa. £7,100

Benefits of the Travel Plan
• Measures and Incentives assist in encouraging use of sustainable
travel options.
• Implementing a Travel Plan provides evidence of the
developments commitment towards encouraging sustainable
travel choices.
• On average £7,000 profit gained per hotel bedroom in place of
car parking space.

Concluding Comments
• Travel Plans coupled with reduced car parking can stimulate
travel behaviour change.
• Travel Plans can assist with reducing the level of car parking on
site.
• Simple equation that maximising hotel floor area is more
profitable than developing additional car parking area.

Site
Room occupation by car driver at full occupancy levels
No.
Rooms
Observed
proportion
of Guests
as car
driver
Number of
Rooms with
Guests as car
driver at full
occupancy
No of on-site
car parking
spaces
available
Proximity to
Bus/rail
station
Leeds 100 22% 22 0* 3 mins walk
from Railway
Station
Aberdeen 97 28% 27 28 5 mins walk
from
Railway/Bus
Station

Site
Room occupation by car driver at full occupancy levels
No.
Rooms
Observed
proportion
of Guests
as car
driver
Number of
Rooms with
Guests as
car driver at
full
occupancy
No of on-site
car parking
spaces
available
Proximity to
Bus/rail
station
Glasgow 95 30% 28 0* 10 mins walk
from Railway
Station
Manchester 162 35% 57 47 £3 Taxi fare
from Railway
Station

Site
Room occupation by car driver at full occupancy levels
No.
Rooms
Observed
proportion
of Guests
as car
driver
Number of
Rooms with
Guests as car
driver at full
occupancy
No of on-site
car parking
spaces
available
Proximity to
Bus/rail
station
Birmingham 134 29% 39 28 3 mins by
Taxi, 10 min
walk from New
Street Railway
Station

Average Level of Occupancy (year to 27/09/2000)
Site
No. of Average Level of
Bedrooms Occupancy
Leeds 100 80.6%
Glasgow 97 81.9%
Aberdeen 95 69.4%
Manchester 162 76.2%
Birmingham 134 76.6%