Potential for Carfree Development in the UK

By Steve Melia

Previous research suggests that intensifying development in urban areas can help to reduce car travel but at the same time, increases concentrations of cars and traffic in intensified areas, unless it is accompanied by more radical measures to restrain car use. Climate change may force such measures up the policy agenda.

Carfree development is one such measure. Examples differ across several European countries, but the defining characteristics are generally:

• a traffic-free immediate environment
• restrictions on parking
• a mixture of measures to promote other modes

This study began with a 2,400 mile bicycle ride to study Vauban, (Freiburg, Germany) Europe's largest 'carfree' neighbourhood. With a population approaching 5,000 Vauban's traffic management involves a degree of compromise on vehicular access. Implementation has not been problem-free, but Vauban does appear to offer one possible model for policymakers.

Developments described as "car free" in the UK have all been relatively small so far; most would not satisfy the definition above. Whether the potential exists for larger carfree developments in the UK is the starting point for this research, which will focus mainly on potential demand from home buyers/renters.

Following evidence from the European carfree areas and research on attitudes to car ownership in the UK, this study will focus on three target groups:

• people with no significant barriers to car ownership, who have chosen not to own cars ("carfree choosers")
• people whose attitudes and past behaviour indicate a propensity to choose not to own cars where circumstances facilitate this ("carfree possibles")
• people who live (or have lived) in environments where access to cars is subject to limitations and who are willing to use other modes to reduce their own car use ("car limiters")

The next stage involved three surveys: an online survey aimed at members of environmental and cycling organisations, a postal survey of Camden in London, and a hand-delivered survey around Poole Quarter – a new development with low parking and a residential travel plan. The aim of these surveys was to explore the demographics, housing/location and travel characteristics of the target groups, together with their attitudes towards mobility, residential location and the concept of carfree neighbourhoods as illustrated by European examples.
The surveys are now substantially complete. The online and Camden surveys found large proportions of the carfree choosers and possibles, whereas the Poole survey found mainly car limiters. All three groups used cars considerably less than the general population. The carfree choosers and possibles expressed considerable interest in the concept of carfree developments, along with preferences towards more urban lifestyles and properties. Future stages will examine these issues in more depth through qualitative interviews, followed by interviews with developers and planners in local and national Government to explore the implications for planning and transport policy.

The evidence from these surveys appears to suggest that the travel behaviour of even the population segments most committed to reducing car use can still be influenced by the circumstances in which they live. Thus carfree developments, by offering more facilitative circumstances, could offer one potential solution to the paradox of intensification.

This PhD Study at the University of the West of England is funded by the ESRC and the Department of Transport. For more information see: www.stevemelia.co.uk/research.htm