Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will take steps to ensure that sustainable transport planning is a priority in building transport infrastructure on new development sites.

The National Planning Policy Framework is clear that transport issues, including opportunities to promote walking, cycling and public transport, should be considered from the earliest stages of plan-making and when considering development proposals.

As committed in the Transport Decarbonisation Plan, the Government is embedding transport decarbonisation principles in spatial planning and across transport policymaking to ensure that new development is designed in a way that promotes sustainable travel choices. This year, Active Travel England has been established as a statutory consultee in the planning system and will help planning authorities in their work to implement good active travel design. Additionally, the Government is taking forward updates to the Manual for Streets guidance to encourage a more holistic approach to street design which assigns higher priority to the needs of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.