Developers submitting plans for housing schemes of 150 or more homes, 81,000 sq ft or on an area of 12-acres will face having to get the nod from former Olympic cyclist Chris Boardman.
From 1 June government agency Active Travel England, for which Boardman is commissioner, has become a statutory consultee on all major residential planning applications. The move will see ATE review around 3,100 applications a year, equating to 60% of homes.
The role will enable ATE to deliver on its mission to make walking, wheeling and cycling the preferred choice for everyone to get around in England by ensuring developments include active travel within their designs.
Boardman said: “Active travel is essential to improving public health, reducing emissions and tackling the cost-of-living crisis. That is why we are working to ensure millions more people have the opportunity to walk, wheel or cycle from their doorstep to where they need to be.
“Designing activity back into our neighbourhoods and creating places where children have transport independence is achievable – it just needs smart planning.”
He added: “As a statutory consultee, ATE will work with planning authorities and developers to help ensure estates give people what they need to get fresh air and exercise, save money on petrol and help fight climate change.”
The establishment of ATE’s statutory consultee status follows a pilot project, which saw ATE work with 30 local authorities to assess more than 60 developments over the nine months, until November 2022.
While ATE will be consulted on developments at and above its thresholds, it will not have any statutory powers to direct the outcome of planning applications.
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