RPS Hosts PTRC Transport Conference in London

On 30^th September an RPS London office was the venue for PTRC’s conference on Successful Planning Applications for Transport Practitioners. PTRC Education and Research Services Ltd is the leading organiser of training for the transport industry in the UK and is owned by the Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport. It was therefore an excellent opportunity for RPS to host the event which involved 12 external speakers from high-profile organisations in the sector presenting to young professionals from both the private sector and local authorities. Alison Goddard and Alice Nolan of the Transport team also attended the conference.

The presenters were from a range of leading companies and organisation including TfL. Between them a wide range of themes were discussed including the planning process, mitigation of transport impacts, pre-application discussions, sustainable transport initiatives, travel planning and construction logistic plans. RPS' Richard Stacey delivered the presentation prepared with Alison Goddard on “Transport Statements and Assessments” which was illustrated with case studies including recent work on the planning application for West Midland Safari Park. The presentation covered the purpose and role of the reports as well as their content and when they are required. The referral process for certain planning applications submitted to the London boroughs, which was relevant to the work of several members within the audience, was also included.

All of the presenters highlighted the importance of engaging in pre-application discussions with the local planning authority and highway authority, and occasionally the Highways Agency / Welsh Government / Transport Scotland, when preparing the transport elements of a planning application. Other key debates included the mitigation of public transport impacts as part of new developments and the additional stakeholders involved in scoping work for London projects.

Excellent feedback was received from PTRC on the quality of Cornhill as a venue and the organisation support received from the team there. It is pleasing that Richard has been invited to present on the same topic again at PTRC’s conference hosted in Manchester in January 2015.

Commenting on the success of the day, Richard said “It was a privilege to be able to host this important conference for the key provider of training within our industry sector. The excellent facilities and staff at Cornhill were scored highly in delegate feedback. Hosting and presenting at the conference has certainly helped to raise the profile of RPS and our capability within the industry.”