From Paper To Practice: The Thorpe Park Business Park
Travel planning has progressed at pace over the past decade, and so has the understanding of how travel plan strategies work in practice . . . . travel plans have jumped from the drawing board into reality. The same could be said of Thorpe Park in Leeds, as sketches and masterplans have risen into one of the UKs largest business parks.
TPS were appointed at the outset of this large, prestigious, and often challenging development to prepare and agree a transport strategy that would guide the ongoing transport planning and design of the 1.8m sq ft business park. From conception TPS have been retained by the original and subsequent developers to implement that strategy, a task which includes the management of a site wide travel plan framework.
Whilst often considered to be more complex than a normal workplace travel plan, if developed and implemented effectively a travel plan framework is able to deliver real benefits to both the developer and occupiers of a multiple occupancy site. Making use of a consistent approach to travel planning significant practical and economic benefits can be achieved by all stakeholders.
As both Thorpe Park and travel planning have evolved over the past decade so too has the level of skills and experience held by TPS. The opportunity to learn through hands on experience of implementing such a pro active travel plan is not to be underestimated, and it is these skills and experiences that TPS continue to apply to new projects.
Travel Plan Management
As travel planning at Thorpe Park has progressed so too has the role of the site wide travel plan manager. The need for travel planning has shifted from a development requirement, to an essential tool used to ensure sustainable accessibility is maintained to the advantage of both the developer and the site occupiers.
Travel Plan Monitoring
As part of the role of travel plan manager TPS carry out an annual online survey of staff travel habits and patterns of staff from across the 60+ organisations currently located at the business park. These surveys play a vital role in the ongoing management of the travel plan, allowing TPS to engage with occupiers on the issues currently affecting their staff.
Travel Plan Measures
When implemented across a number of organisations the potential for car sharing schemes to provide a realistic travel option can increase significantly. That potential however will not be realised unless the scheme is effectively managed and promoted. At Thorpe Park TPS developed an online car share scheme which has been made available to all businesses.
By continuing to market and raise awareness of that scheme membership levels continue to increase, and in early 2009 the scheme won a national competition for ‘the most successful and inspiring’ car share promotion.
Travel Plan Marketing
Providing travel information is one thing . . . providing travel information that successfully communicates with its target audience is often another. At Thorpe Park a lack of appropriate communication channels between the travel plan manager and staff from the various organisations was seen as an issue affecting the success of the travel plan. In response TPS worked with Valad Properties to develop and implement the ParkLife Community. Focussing on a bespoke website, ParkLife directly engages with staff from across the business park on a range of issues, allowing TPS as the travel plan manager to raise awareness of both the travel plan framework and the measures contained within it.
Within only a few days of the launch of ParkLife 20% of staff from across the park had registered as members and the ParkLife brand has become established as a recognised source of information on travel options and tools.
