Transport and Highways development control

Find out how we determine if a planning application impacts transport and highways, and apply for transport pre-application planning advice.

Planning applications

The council’s Transport Policy and Strategy Team is a statutory consultee of the planning process. The team provides technical advice and comments on how development proposals impact transport and highways.

Policy context

We refer to the following policies and guidance:

In addition to the above, we refer to other documents and Acts such as:

  • The Building Regulations
  • British Standards
  • East Sussex Act 1981

Considerations in our responses

In our responses, we consider the following:

  • local transport impacts
  • highway boundary issues
  • access:
    • all modes for all site users, including disabled/blue badge and emergency services
  • parking:
    • loading
    • deliveries
    • servicing
  • travel movements and patterns (trip generation and distribution)
  • operational impacts such as:
    • parking stress
    • junction modelling
    • road safety
  • demolition and construction
  • highways agreements and licensing
  • off-site highway requirements and amendments
  • how some transport-related impacts of proposals can be mitigated 

Submission of documents for a planning application

The following are some of the transport-related supporting documents that may be required for a planning application:

  • Transport Assessment
  • Transport Statement
  • Travel Plan
  • Demolition/Construction Environmental Management Plans (DEMP and CEMP) where applicable
  • Deliveries and Servicing Management Plan (DSMP) where applicable

We advise that you seek highways pre-application advice to determine which documents you may need to prepare and submit before applying for planning permission.

Apply for highways pre-application advice.

During a consultation at the planning application stage

We may request amendments or improvements for your proposal which could be secured by planning condition/obligation post-permission, or an amendment may be considered necessary before determination of an application. 

When assessing your application, there are 2 types of improvements we may request:

  • changes
  • mitigation

Requests for changes

Changes could include:

  • adjustments to on-site cycle and car parking levels and their design and layout
  • new and improved pedestrian infrastructure on site and/or on the surrounding public highway
  • amendments to site layout and access points to provide safer routes for all site users 

Requests for mitigations

Mitigation could include:

  • conditions to secure additional information and amendments to ensure compliance with planning policies
  • off-site highway works and/or financial contributions to deliver improved infrastructure, including, but not limited to:
    • cycle hire docking stations
    • bus stops/services
    • pedestrian routes and crossings
  • management strategies and plans 
  • travel planning and monitoring fees 

Transport Assessment in Brighton & Hove

Pre-application advice

If you're considering making a planning application that is likely to have significant highways or transport impacts, you can seek advice before you make your application through our paid-for pre-application advice service.

This will enable you to:

  • identify potential problems early and resolve them
  • gain clarity on how your application will be viewed against the policy
  • understand what documents and data will be needed to support your application
  • ask questions and receive answers ahead of the public statutory consultation process

We work collaboratively with you, providing clear advice on transport strategy, design and assessment which are important aspects of the development management process.

Our customers are anyone who uses or impacts the transport infrastructure in Brighton & Hove.

National government guidance such as the Manual for Streets and Development Management Procedure Order encourages a collaborative approach, and our pre-application process is designed with this in mind.

Apply for pre-application advice

Contact us

If you have any questions send an email to transport.dcapps@brighton-hove.gov.uk.