Last year the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) published the first ever policy statement about land use planning and the railway network. In brief the statement set out the SRA's desire to engage with the national, regional and local planning authorities in Great Britain so as to: encourage appropriate land use around railway stations; improve access to and within railway stations for all sections of the community; encourage the provision of infrastructure for rail freight use; promote and safeguard the future development of the rail network; and promote the development of rail access to existing and proposed major traffic generators. The practical actions taken by the SRA's Land Use Planning Team to implement this strategy are described. These include: input to Regional Planning Guidance and Regional Transport Strategies; making representations on Development Plans; safeguarding of land required for network development; and involvement in selected development control cases. Some key issues that have arisen from this experience are described, drawing on a research study on development at and close to railway stations undertaken for the SRA. Likely changes that may be required in reaction to the UK Government's proposals to amend the planning system are outlined. For the covering abstract see ITRD E124693.
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