b_together, 47-49 St John’s Wood High Street NW8 Family Hub - Nursery Travel Plan
15 February 2021
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b_together, 47-49 St John’s Wood High Street NW8
Family Hub
Travel Plan
1. Introduction
1.1 This Travel Plan relates to b_together’s family hub nursery at 47-49 St John’s Wood High Street and, specifically, the requirements of Condition 17 on the planning permission of 21 July 2020, which states:
Three months prior to the occupation of the nursery element of the Sui Generis Use, a travel Plan must be submitted to and approved by the City Council. This development shall be carried out in accordance with this Travel Plan and the Travel Plan shall be Should the D1 use reviewed at the 1, 3 and 5 anniversary of the use.
Reason:
To make sure that the use will not cause nuisance for people in the area. This is as set out in S24, S29 and S32 of Westminster's City Plan (November 2016) and TACE 10 and ENV 6 of our Unitary Development Plan that we adopted in January 2007. (R05GB)
2. Purpose of Document
2.1 The purpose of this Travel Plan is to encourage healthier and sustainable travel in the journeys to and from b_together’s family hub nursery, by all its users and staff. In so doing, it aims to achieve a pattern of movement and activity that will bring about greater awareness and environmental improvements, including: less congestion and better air quality; improved travel awareness and road user skills; healthier and more active family hub nursery community; and a safer environment for walking, cycling and public transport use from the nursery.
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2.2 The Plan sets out a range of practical steps and measures to discourage private car trips and encourage walking, cycling and public transport use to and from the nursery.
2.3 As such, it aims to contribute to changing travel habits though measures including providing travel information to users and staff and promotion of available incentives for sustainable travel in accordance with central and local government planning policy.
2.4 This Plan therefore accords with the Government’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. It will contribute to helping children achieve the 5 Every Child Matters outcomes:
1. Be healthy 2. Stay safe 3. Enjoy and achieve 4. Make a positive contribution 5. Achieve economic well-being
2.5 The Plan is intended to be responsive to changing circumstances and activity in the nursery and beyond. As such, the Plan will be an evolving document that that will be subject to regular review by b_together and updated in accordance with the planning permission of 21 July 2020.
3. Scope of Travel Plan
3.1 The Plan provides further information on the following items
- Site location and accessibility - Travel plan management - Measures to promote sustainable travel - Surveys and targets
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4. Site Location and Accessibility
Location
4.1 The site is located on the western side of St John’s Wood High Street which typically provides ground floor retail units with office floor space and or residential units on first and second floors. The plan below shows its location.
Accessibility
4.2 Through b_together’s past experience of operating family members hubs and nurseries, nursery pupils tended to come from a 1 to 1.5km radius and therefore it was most common for them to walk to the hub with parents and carers.
4.3 This applies equally strongly to our St John’s Wood family hub nursery.
4.4 By Foot: The demographic is largely families local to the vicinity and therefore it is important for customers to be able to access the venue on foot.
4.5 The hub will also be within walking distance to the following schools, as we anticipate to become part of the morning school run:
b_together, 47-49 St John’s Wood High Street NW8 Family Hub - Nursery Travel Plan
15 February 2021
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- Saint Christina’s Primary (4 mins) - St John’s Wood Pre-prep (5 mins) - The American School in London (8 mins) - Arnold House School (8 mins) - Abercorn School (14 mins) - St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School (14 mins)
4.6 The table below summarises local transport facilities available within easy walking distance of the family hub.
4.7 Bicycle: In a bid to promote physical and mental health alongside aiming to reduce carbon emissions on the High Street, there will be provisions for secure on-site long term/staff cycle parking as identified on the proposed floor plans. Customers and clients will be encouraged to use the ample Sheffield cycle parking stands and alike in the near facility.
4.8 The hub will also endeavour to work alongside Westminster City Council and local businesses to offer our customers incentives and discounts on cycle equipment and courses to make this an accessible option of travel for all.
4.9 Public Transport: Pupils and parents/carers and staff accessing the hub by public transport have the following well served options: St John’s Wood Underground Station (4 minute walk), South Hampstead Rail Station (17 minute walk) and numerous bus services on Wellington Road (4 minutes’ walk).
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15 February 2021
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4.10 Private Car: Again, from previous experience, the vast majority of users are local residents and tend to come from within a 1 to 1.5km radius. However, in the unlikely event of someone wishing to access the hub by car, there is a Q Park secure 24-hour car park less than a 4 minute walk away, which hosts 237 car parking spaces.
4.11 Alternatively, Westminster City Council has on-street pay and display parking on St John’s Wood High Street, Mon to Sat 8:30am - 6:30pm for a maximum of 2 hours at a time.
5. Travel Plan Management
5.1 Shakira Englefield, Head of Operations, will act as the Travel Plan Coordinator (TPC).
5.2 The TPC’s responsibilities are:
- Promoting sustainable travel throughout the family hub and nursery specifically, users and staff alike, to encourage maximum sustainable travel modes
- encouraging the use of sustainable transport modes and identifying anything that may prevent that
- ensuring that the nursery supports walking and cycling for users and staff alike
- liaising with the local community via The St John’s Wood Society
- liaising with officers at Westminster City Council who have responsibility for promoting travel plans and road safety
- promoting the Council’s action plan for a greener city to provide safer, greener and cleaner streets and other campaigns including to improve air quality around schools
5.3 b_together will continue to liaise which the local community by establishing a steering group, comprising our management team and local stakeholders including representatives of the St John’s Wood Society. This will regularly
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review procedures and processes and make sure they are the best they can be, including in respect of carrying out measures set out in this Travel Plan.
6. Measures to Promote Sustainable Travel
6.1 Digital introductory information, both via our website and email, will be provided to parents and staff alike.
6.2 Ample buggy parking spaces are provided on-site to encourage walking by parents and others responsible for nursery children travel to and from the hub.
6.3 It is expected that non-car travel to and from the hub and especially for the nursery will remain the dominant mode.
6.4 Public transport information including emerging initiatives will be communicated in a timely manner to parents, both new starters and the wider nursery parent body on an ongoing basis.
6.5 We will promote to parents and staff alike the Council’s Cycle Confident scheme which through training, courses and other measures seeks to make cycling safe, enjoyable and practical. Parents and staff will be informed that this scheme is avaible for anybody who lives, works or studies in the Borough.
6.6 In keeping with our business values and sustainability ethos, we will be actively promoting greener ways to travel. To this end, the hub will be seeking to partner with local business to offer incentives or discounts to those accessing the venue by foot or bicycle.
7. Surveys and Targets
7.1 Three months after the nursery opens, parents, pupils and staff will be surveyed to assess their current travel patterns (see Annexe 1).
7.2 The information obtained will be used to identify any travel problems and issues and specific actions needed we have within our control to take to meet our aims.
7.3 The pre-schoolers will be asked in class with a show of hands survey. Parents of remaining children will be asked when collecting children over a few days, or by taking surveys home to complete.
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7.4 The survey’s objectives will be:
- O1: To assess the habits of families and staff travelling to and from b_together’s
- O2: Promote the choice of sustainable transport modes available to staff, parents and children in place of private car use
- O3: Provide children with early skills and knowledge of healthy and safe ways to travel
- O4: Improve the health of staff, parents and children by increasing the numbers walking or cycling
- O5: Make journeys safe and enjoyable
7.5 The Targets
- T1: For every child to enjoy a local walk at least once a week
- T2: Promote Children’s Traffic Club and encourage all 3 to 4 year olds to join
- T3: For road safety to be part of our curriculum once a term
- T4: Providing general information for families about travelling safely and building in active travel as part of their life style
- T5: Establish a sustainable travel policy statement and publicise it in the nursery and on the website
7.6 This will accord with the Mayor's Transport Strategy which includes his plans to transform London's streets and encourage more people to walk, cycle and use public transport.
7.7 b_together is therefore currently and going forward will contribute to meeting the Mayor’s aim’s by ensuring 80% of all trips in London being made on foot, by cycle or using public transport by 2041.
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15 February 2021
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8. Monitoring and Review Procedures
8.1 An Action Plan will be drawn up and be incorporated to the appropriate anniversary reviews as required by the 21 July 2020 planning permission, Condition 17 – namely in 2022, 2024 and 2026.
8.2 This will link objectives and targets, any action required, including identifying implications for any cost personnel resources, when action may be required by and by whom.
8.3 In addition to the statutory requirement, we will regular monitor and review issues arising from the implementation of our Travel Plan.
8.4 The person responsible for ensuring the ongoing monitoring and review including the hands up surveys will be b_together’s Travel Plan Coordinator, Shakira Englefield, Head of Operations: E: [email protected]
8.5 When reviewing our Travel Plan, we will take into consideration any issues arising from new developments in education and transport since this Travel Plan was completed and subsequent versions.
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15 February 2021
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Annexe 1
Sample Travel Survey Questionnaire
Parent Survey
To give our children a brighter and healthier future, we want to maintain and encourage travel that is better for health and the environment.
Please give us 30 seconds of your time to answer these questions:
1. How many of your children attend b_together’s?
2. How do you or your carers and your children travel to b_together? Walk, cycle, public transport, private car, taxi?
3. Do you use our Family Hub’s other facilities when you drop and facilities pick up your kids? If so, which ones?
4. Do you travel to b_together as part of other journeys? Other nearby shops and services on the High Street or work? If so, please share some details.
Staff Survey
To give our children and staff a brighter and healthier future, we want to maintain and encourage travel that is better for health and the environment.
How do you travel to work? Walk, cycle, public transport, private car, taxi?