Transport planner as part of a sustainability policy

Many schools, colleges and universities have produced travel plans which are designed to:

• reduce congestion in the surrounding community
• reduce demand for car parking space
• contribute towards healthy lifestyle initiatives
• reduce their environmental impact.

If you set up an environmental management system, you can use a green transport policy as evidence of your commitment to reducing the environmental impact of your establishment.

Environmental management systems (EMS) and environmental reports

Good practice

Travel plans for schools

If you develop a school travel plan you should involve teachers, school management, pupils, parents and your local council. The development of a school travel plan is one of the eight topics covered by the Eco-schools programme.

Eco-schools Scotland

Eco-schools Northern Ireland

There are a number of resources available to help schools produce school travel plans.

Sustrans: Safe routes to school

Travelwise Northern Ireland: Benefits of a school travel plan

Travel plans for further and higher education

Universities and colleges are often major employers and can account for a high level of travel impacts. These can be addressed in travel plans.

A travel plan for a college or university should cover travel to and from the campus by students, staff and visitors. It should also consider the impact of vehicles owned and operated by the establishment and the organisation's business travel.

The introduction of a travel plan is often part of the conditions for planning permission for capital developments. You should consult with your local council planning department for guidance on relevant planning legislation.

Further information

Department for Transport: Workplace travel plans

Scottish Government: Travel plans - an overview

Transport Scotland: ChooseAnotherWay.com

Employers can make use of tax incentives to provide a range of services as part of their travel plan.

HM Revenue and Customs: Fact sheet for employers setting up travel plans

Energy Saving Trust: Business transport and travel

Vehicles – efficiency

If you own and run vehicles, there are steps that you can take to reduce emissions and save money. If you lease vehicles, make sure that your procurement policy considers the environmental performance of vehicles.

Buy, or plan to replace your vehicles with the most efficient models on the market.

Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA): New car fuel consumption and exhaust emissions

Consider alternative fuels such as liquid propane gas (LPG), hybrids or electric vehicles if appropriate.

Improve the driving skills of your staff and help them to develop more efficient driving techniques.

Energy Saving Trust: tips for safer, greener, stress-free driving

In Scotland, contact the Energy Saving Trust. They can help you save up to 15% of the costs of running your vehicles.

Energy Saving Trust Scotland: Transport

Maintain vehicles to make sure that they are running as efficiently as possible and keep tyres inflated to the correct pressure.

Plan journeys and combine several short trips into one longer one. Cold engines use around 60% more fuel than warm engines.

The Energy Saving Trust has produced a smart phone app that can save you money and track your fuel use. You can find out about the app at:

Energy saving Trust: FuelGood

End-of-life vehicles and waste tyres

You should dispose of all waste vehicles at an authorised treatment facility (ATF) and obtain a certificate of destruction.

End-of-life vehicles

You must no longer send whole and shredded used tyres to landfill. This does not include bicycle tyres, or tyres with an outside diameter greater than 1.4 metres. Ask your waste contractor for collection and disposal options in your area.