Policy T3
Healthy and sustainable travel
The council will expect new development to:
a) be planned and designed so it reduces the need to travel by making the most effective use of land, reflecting its connectivity and accessibility by existing and future public transport, walking, and cycling routes through the delivering high density and mixed-use schemes in and around our town centres and areas well located for public transport (PTAL 4 and above).
b) demonstrate that it aligns with the London Plan strategic transport policies on sustainable travel by enabling modal shift, prioritising the modes of transport in the order they appear in the London Plan transport hierarchy.
c) ensure it is permeable to pedestrians and cyclists, where appropriate, and internal routes and access points are aligned with existing active travel routes and desire lines.
d) integrate high quality transport infrastructure with consideration of and connection to walking, cycling and public transport routes beyond the site.
e) embed placemaking and active travel principles through well designed, safe, inclusive and accessible public realm which is in accordance with the Healthy Streets Approach and Access for All guidance.
For major commercial developments the council will:
a) Require the provision of facilities to encourage cycling, such as secure parking and cycle storage and for major commercial developments provision for accessible and inclusive changing and drying facilities that include showers and lockers.
b) Require the provision cargo bike parking spaces to encourage a switch to zero emission last mile vehicles for servicing, maintenance, and deliveries.
c) Require the promotion of healthy and sustainable travel choices as part of a Travel Plan.
11.23 Hammersmith & Fulham has high levels of active travel (walking, cycling and wheeling) amongst its population; however, it could be much higher, and further work is required to promote walking, cycling and wheeling, particularly through the delivery of a safe and continuous network of active travel routes across the borough. In line with the Mayor's Transport Strategy the Council is working to reduce car dependency and increase active and public transport use.
11.24 The overarching aim of the Mayor's Transport Strategy is for 80% of all trips in London to be made on foot, by cycle, or using public transport by 2041, compared to 63% today. The LIP3 specific target for H&F is 89% by 2041 compared to 79% in 2023/24
11.25 The level of growth planned for the borough over the period of the next local plan will result in many more additional trips being undertaken in the borough by new residents, businesses and visitors. Given the fact the highway and transport networks in the borough are already at capacity at peak times, and in some locations throughout the day, these additional growth-related trips can only be accommodated sustainably if the number made by cars and vans is minimised. This means ensuring that majority of additional development related trips are made by active and sustainable modes like walking, cycling, wheeling and public transport.
11.26 Accommodating growth through modal shift will be an overarching objective to the council's approach to sustainable transport and travel. The local plan approach seeks to ensure that developments are planned and designed so that where there is a need to travel then the maximum number of these trips are taken by active, public and shared forms of transport. It also seeks to ensure new development addresses the needs of people with disabilities and reduced mobility in relation to all modes of transport.
11.27 Micromobility rental schemes (dockless e-bike share) have contributed to recent increases in cycling, with more than 300,000 trips carried out using dockless e-bikes in the borough in April 2025.
11.28 The development of safer and more convenient cycle routes is one of the proposals identified in LIP3 to achieve the mode share target of 89%. Hammersmith & Fulham is developing a safe cycle route network, which includes national, regional, and local cycle routes.