Tra 01 - Transport assessment and travel plan

AI calculation – changes to public transport services during the assessment - KBCN1527

The AI is calculated as part of the design stage transport analysis and its value relates to the site location and to informing transport-related design decisions. This must be based on current information, including any planned and publicly-notified changes at the time the transport assessment is carried out. This should be used as the AI benchmark for the assessment. Where later, unforeseen changes to public transport availability are implemented before post-construction certification, the AI benchmark should not be updated at post-construction stage. Assessments should not be disadvantaged by, or benefit from such changes.

Bristol Transport Access Level (BrisTAL) - KBCN1426

BrisTAL is no longer being updated, and the platform may no longer be available. Therefore, the Accessibility Index (AI) output from BrisTAL is no longer compliant with BREEAM. Previously, BrisTAL offered an Accessibility Index (AI) that measures the level of public transport connectivity within the city of Bristol, based on the PTAL method, and could be used as evidence of compliance with the AI for BREEAM. Now, Bristol projects will need to calculate the AI using the BREEAM transport tool.

03 08 2022 - Updated to clarify that the dataset used must be current at the time of the transport assessment, but this does not need to be updated at post-construction stage
03 12 2025 - This route is no longer applicable for assessments registered after this update.

Community transport schemes in rural areas - KBCN1082

In rural areas, where scheduled public services may be limited, community transport schemes, including 'on-demand services', should be noted in the 'Transport assessment and travel plan', however unscheduled services cannot be accounted for when calculating the AI. The provision of new a community transport scheme may be recognised under 'Sustainable transport measures' as a 'dedicated service', provided that:

It serves a rural area
It is available to all potential users
The service is established at the time of the assessment being submitted
The service is of an appropriate scale for the community it serves

Demand-based bus services in AI calculation - KBCN1338

Demand-based bus services operated by public transport providers can be included in the calculation of the Accessibility Index. The project team will need to determine an average number of stops per hour to allow input into the AI tool.

Existing travel plan - KBCN1068

If an up to date organisational travel plan, that is BREEAM compliant, exists for a site on which an assessed building is located, it can be used to meet the relevant criteria. All building users (in existing and new buildings) and additional travel resulting from users of the new building need to be taken into account.

Future transport nodes - KBCN0966

Where a transport node is currently inactive but will become active soon after project completion, it can be included when calculating the existing AI. To demonstrate this, confirmation of the start of service date and service frequency from the appropriate public transport authority or company will be required.

Greater Manchester Accessibility Level (GMAL) - KBCN1394

The Greater Manchester Accessibility Levels (GMAL) method has been created to provide a way of measuring the density of public transport provision at any location within the Greater Manchester region. It is derived from the Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) approach used by Transport for London. As such, the Greater Manchester Accessibility Index (GMAI) scores generated by the GMAL method can be used as evidence of compliance against the BREEAM and HQM Accessibility Index requirements. Please note that project teams must ensure that they use the version of the GMAL dataset that is current at the time the transport assessment is undertaken. This is available from the data.gov.uk website (https://data.gov.uk/dataset/d9dfbf0a-3cd7-4b12-a39f-0ec717423ee4/gm-accessibility-levels-gmal).

02 08 2022 - Updated to clarify that the dataset used must be current at the time of the transport assessment, but this does not need to be updated at post-construction stage

Measurements and calculations for reporting on amenities – design stage - KBCN1381

Reporting on accessible amenities is an explicit requirement of the Site-Specific Transport Assessment in Tra 01. However, if this assessment does not provide enough information to satisfy the relevant requirements for Tra 02, it must be supplemented by an additional report. This does not have to be provided by author of the transport assessment, and could, for example, be produced by the BREEAM assessor or a member of the design team.

02 Nov 2023 - Reference to calculating the AI removed. This, and reporting on accessible amenities are explicit requirements of the transport assessment in Tra 01. Title and wording updated to clarify the intent and made applicable to Tra 02.

On-demand public bus services - KBCN1404

These can be recognised as follows:

The location of the transport node should be determined as the nearest available pick-up point to the assessed building
The frequency of the service should be considered as the published maximum wait time (or actual average wait time, if the service is established and this data is available)
Such services, whilst they may serve multiple destinations, should be considered as a single route
It must be demonstrated that information on the availability and how to access the service is made available to building users

This is limited to genuine on-demand bus services, which are operated as public transport with multiple pick-up and drop-off points and does not extend to private hire, taxi or other similar operations.

Park and Ride Schemes - KBCN0754

'Park and ride' bus services run from one or more car parks to a city centre or other destination to allow travellers to park their car at a convenient location and complete their journey by bus. These generally stop at transport nodes en route to allow passengers to board or alight. Provided the service meets the aim of the Issue with reference to the guidance, they can be considered for this Issue in the same way as any other bus service.

PTAL report supporting evidence - KBCN0230

For developments in Greater London where a Public Transport Accessibility Level (PTAL) report is provided, this report does not need to be supplemented by additional evidence to demonstrate compliance with criteria. The assessor should be satisfied that the PTAL report is current and accurately relates to the assessed site.

PTAL web-links - KBCN0705

For a detailed description of the PTAL methodology, see the 'Assessing transport connectivity in London' document at the following link: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/connectivity-assessment-guide.pdf The link to calculate your PTAL score is: https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/urban-planning-and-construction/planning-with-webcat/webcat

UK NC2014 Technical manual - hyperlinks to be updated accordingly in next re-issue.

Public Transport Access Index (PTAI) – Buildings in Greater London - KBCN1149

For projects in Greater London, the Public Transport Access Index (PTAI) should be derived directly from the TfL WebCAT platform. When this tool is used, the BREEAM Tra 01/02 PTAI/AI calculation is not required. Requirements:

Baseline: Assessors must use the PTAL version that is current at the time the Transport Assessment is undertaken (Concept Design).
Post-Construction Consistency: Once the design-stage PTAI is established, it does not need to be updated at the Post-Construction stage, even if the local transport network or WebCAT data has changed in the interim.
Location: Access data via TfL WebCAT.
Procedure: Follow the below technical guide to extract the specific Accessibility Index (AI) value from the WebCAT CSV export (Cell G3) for entry into the BREEAM Platform.

Locating-PTAI-via-TfL-WebCAT

04 03 2026 - Updated to clarify requirements and adding instruction for locating PTAI or AI via TfL WebCAT
03 08 2022 - Updated to clarify that the version used must be current at the time of the transport assessment, but this does not need to be updated at post-construction stage

Safe pedestrian routes – Definition, measurement and verification - KBCN0238

Definition Safe pedestrian routes include pavements and safe crossing points, which may be controlled or, for example, be identified by tactile paving, a crossing island or a dropped kerb. An element of judgement may be required, in which case justification should be provided. Measurement Distances could be measured, for example, along a pavement, across a road at a safe crossing point and along the pavement on the other side. The distance should not be measured diagonally across a road, following the most direct route. Verification The assessor’s site inspection is an important aspect of the assessment and may help to confirm that all relevant information is current and can include photographs of any key areas. This can also help to identify safe crossing points or hazards which may not be apparent from a desktop study. Alternatively, web-based map data may be used to satisfy the evidence requirements at both Design and Post-Construction Stage, provided that the assessor is satisfied that this clearly demonstrates compliance and that the evidence is robust and up to date. Where web-based navigation maps (e.g. Google Maps/Street View) are used as evidence, this must include: • Dated and marked-up site plan or a web-based navigation map viewer highlighting: • Current location and type of transport nodes and local amenities. • Current route and distance from the building via a safe pedestrian route. • Plan or map scale. When relying on web-based evidence for post-construction stage, the assessor must, additionally, provide verification that the information provided for the nodes/amenities is still accurate and up to date.

16 Sep 2025 - Wording relating to verification updated to clarify the intent.
29 Aug 2025 - Approach to web-based map data at post-construction stage updated and related wording amended accordingly
07 Mar 2024 - No changes have been made. This appears as 'updated' due to an administrative error.
11 Jan 2024 - Wording re-structured for clarity
19 Dec 2023 - Applicability to BIU V6 confirmed

Tra 01 and Tra 02 – Prerequisite and RIBA stage requirements - KBCN1205

In Issues 1.0 and 1.2 of the technical manual, the criteria state that achieving the credits in Tra 01 is a prerequisite to awarding credits for Tra 02. In order to clarify the intent, there is a need to distinguish between the following:

A ‘transport assessment’, which, to be effective, must be carried out during the early design stages to influence time-critical aspects of the design.

A ‘travel plan’, which must be developed at an appropriate time during the design development to influence the implementation of appropriate transport measures during construction and operation.

The requirement to undertake an early-stage ‘transport assessment’, 'no later than Concept Design stage', remains as a criterion to award any credits for Issue Tra 01, however it has now been clarified that this does not form part of the prerequisite for awarding credits in Tra 02. The prerequisite to achieve credits in Tra 02 relates to the requirement to develop a ‘travel plan’ at an appropriate stage in the development, which informs decisions relating to the sustainable transport measures implemented in Tra 02. However, a transport assessment is a key step in developing a travel plan. Therefore, as stated in criterion 3, to meet the Tra 02 prerequisite, a transport assessment (in line with requirements within criterion 2) must be undertaken at an appropriate time to influence the travel plan. Clarification of the requirements in Tra 01 and Tra 02: Tra 01, Criterion 1 This currently states: ‘1. During the feasibility and design stages, develop a travel plan based on a site-specific travel assessment or statement.’ Clarified criterion: ‘1. No later than Concept Design stage, undertake a site-specific transport assessment (or statement) and draft travel plan, which can demonstrably be used to influence the site layout and built form; see Methodology.’ Tra 01, Criterion 3 This currently states: ‘3. The travel plan includes proposals to increase or improve sustainable modes of transport and movement of people and goods during the building's operation and use; see Methodology.’ Clarified criterion: ‘3. Following a transport assessment (in accordance with the requirements set out in criteria 2a-2g) develop a site-specific travel plan, that provides a long term management strategy which encourages more sustainable travel. The travel plan includes measures to increase or improve more sustainable modes of transport and movement of people and goods during the building's operation; see Methodology.’ Tra 02, Prerequisite This currently states: ‘1. Achieve the Tra 01 Transport assessment and travel plan credits.’ Clarified criterion: ‘1. Achieve criteria 3-5 in the Tra 01 Transport assessment and travel plan Issue’

This will be confirmed in the next reissue of the technical manual, but the tool has been updated on BREEAM Projects and this can be applied immediately in all versions of the UK NC2018 scheme.
07 Jan 25: Wording amended to paragraphs 3 and 4 to make it clear that a compliant transport assessment is still required for the prerequisite for Tra02, but does not need to be produced at Concept Design.

Tram services - KBCN000004

Tram services are classified as train services when assessing transport accessibility.

Transport assessments and transport statements - KBCN1367

For many projects, a Transport Assessment or Transport Statement will be required for planning purposes. Where this is the case, this information can be used to demonstrate compliance with the requirement to undertake a site-specific transport/travel assessment. Where a Transport Assessment or Transport Statement is not specifically required for planning purposes, a site-specific transport/travel assessment must be completed that covers points a to g in criterion 2. In such instances, it is permissible for the results of this assessment to be reported within the travel plan rather than in a separate report. The applicable information must be clearly identifiable within the travel plan document, and the travel plan must clearly demonstrate how the transport/travel assessment has been used to inform the plan’s strategy.

New Construction / UK / 2018 / 04 Transport /