Transport and travel
Our travel plans consist of a package of measures aimed at reducing single occupancy car use amongst staff, retailers and shoppers through enhancing the provision of public transport and providing information on the various travel options available.
Where travel plans already exist, activities have taken place in furthering the awareness of sustainable travel to our centres. Amongst these activities are those detailed separately below as well as participation in the BITC sustainability exhibition at MetroCentre, updates and development of public transport guides where a need has been identified and a contribution to additional Christmas Park and Ride services in Norwich.
As part of the re-launch of the shopping centre web sites in 2008, more prominent links to public transport journey planners and cycle information were created to improve significantly the transport information that is available to our shoppers. Please follow the link below to see a sample page on the website of The Harlequin, Watford:
The Harlequin, Watford Travel Guide on line
Consolidation of key partnerships at both local and national level has continued throughout the year. These partnerships are with retailers, transport operators, government and Sustrans and include membership of the Department for Transport’s National Business Travel Network. These partnerships and contribution to the national travel agenda enable us to develop our sustainable strategies at each centre.
We have completed 9 out of 10 of the travel plans for our directly managed shopping centres. Those for The Chimes, Uxbridge and Victoria Centre, Nottingham were completed in 2008. The final one for Braehead, Renfrew is in draft because we instigated work with other interested parties in the area. We wanted to work with other businesses that could contribute to an expanded Braehead Area Travel Plan, which is expected to be completed in 2009. One benefit of the wider ranging approach is the creation of a car sharing scheme involving various businesses located at Braehead, which will be implemented prior to publication of the area Travel Plan.
