Planning policies - transport policy
The Transportation Planning Section is responsible for the formulation and promotion of the our transport policies. Its priorities include:
- formulation of transport policy and responding to central government transport policy initiatives
- bus planning and sponsorship
- advising the council on the implications of major transport proposals and providing inward investment advice on corporate projects, as appropriate, as part of the council's urban regeneration strategy
- provision of transport planning advice on planning applications.
The council's policies for sustainable transport are set out in our Unitary Development Plan (UDP) and detailed information on proposals may be found in our interim Local Implementation Plan and Borough Spending Plan. In 1996 we undertook a Strategic Transportation Review and, following extensive public consultation, developed a set of priorities and a long-term programme for the development of transportation in the borough.
We have also developed our own Sustainable Transport Strategy, which explains our integrated strategic objectives for the future of transport in Croydon and the ways in which to achieve them. Major public consultation has been undertaken on the strategy, culminating in a major conference in 2000.
We have adopted our own green travel plan, which was developed corporately by a team of officers from every service of the council. This is in line with the government's white paper "A New Deal for Transport", which emphasised the importance of green travel plans. This plan will place us in a strong position to promote good practice to employers, schools and other groups.
Following the reorganisation of government in London, the role of the Greater London Authority is largely strategic and includes responsibility for producing an integrated transport strategy for London. Delivery of that strategy is the responsibility of the new Transport for London authority (TfL), which is an executive body appointed by the Greater London Authority.
Croydon is well served by heavy rail radial routes, which provide links to central London, Gatwick and the south coast. These services make central Croydon attractive for businesses, retail and leisure. Access to mainland Europe is via Gatwick and Waterloo International. Other parts of the country can be reached via central London or the south coast lines. Orbital rail focuses on West Croydon, which has lines to Wimbledon and Sutton. Tramlink provides orbital links to Croydon from Wimbledon, New Addington and Bromley. The A23 and A22 provide access to Croydon from the M25.
The council fully supports the following major strategic transport initiatives aimed at encouraging greater use of public transport and improving interchange. These are the London Bus Initiative (LBI), London Wandle Valley, South Wandle Single Regeneration Bid, ORBIT, Optimum, Crystal Palace Single Regeneration Bid, South and West London Transport Conference (SWELTRAC), South East London Boroughs Transport Strategy (SELTRANS), East London Line Extension, Coulsdon Inner Relief Road, Vision 2020, and Thameslink 2000.
