TM04 - Access to public transport – Above Green

(4 credits available)

Aim

To ensure the availability of frequent and convenient public transport links to fixed public transport nodes (train, bus, tram or tube) and local centres.

Assessment Criteria

The following is required to demonstrate compliance:

One to four credits

The distance from each building entrance to a compliant transport node must be via a safe and convenient pedestrian route and between the following distances:

Credits	Distances (urban)	Distances (rural)
1	≤ 650m	≤ 1300m
2	≤ 550m	≤ 1100m
3	≤ 450m	≤ 900m
4	≤ 350m	≤ 700m

Public transport provision for the compliant transport nodes is agreed with the local authority and as a minimum takes into account of:
- public transport routes and stops
- frequency of services at peak and off peak times.

Compliance Notes

Ref	Terms	Description
CN1	Compliant transport node	In order to be compliant the transport node must provide a regular or frequent service. The node must have a service at least every 10/15 (peak/off peak) minutes in urban areas and every 30 minutes/1 hour (peak/off peak) in rural areas. The services should run to a local centre or a key services centre.
CN2	Proximity to buildings	The public transport nodes’ proximity and frequency should be assessed for each building separately. The resulting ‘credits’ should be averaged to obtain the ‘credits’ awarded to the whole development. Where building types are unknown, notional entrance points must be marked on the masterplan and measurement taken from this point.
CN3	Measuring distance	Distance should not be measured 'as the crow flies' and must be measured via a safe pedestrian route (see CN6) from the main building entrance to the nearest compliant transport node.
CN4	Multiple services at a transport node	Where a transport node is served by more than one service going to a local urban centre, the frequency between services can be used as the frequency for assessment. For example, where there are three services, each with a 30 minute frequency but each follows on 10 minutes after the other, and then the frequency used for assessment purposes would be 10 minutes.
CN5	Multiple transport nodes	Where there is more than one transport node but it serves different proximities of the buildings, units or plots, e.g. one node at 400m and another at 600m then each node should be assessed separately and the ‘credits’ awarded for the best performing node.
CN6	Safe and convenient pedestrian route	See compliance notes for SE 06 – Delivery of services, facilities and amenities.
CN7	Phased developments	In the case of a large development where new transport facilities will be provided at a later stage than the phase being assessed, a commitment to provide the transport facilities should be demonstrated either within the General Contract Specification or in a binding undertaking such as a Section 106 Agreement.

Evidence

Criteria No.	Final Assessment
1	Design specifications or a copy of the masterplan or relevant site plans.
2	Written confirmation from the local authority.

Additional Information

Relevant definitions

Local centre: A local centre is defined as any community focal point. This includes local shops, community facilities, a major transport node, (i.e. a railway, bus station) or another type of significant non-leisure related meeting place.

Definitions for peak and off peak hours as follows:

Peak hours: between 07:00–10:00 and 16:00–19:00.

Off peak hours: between 10:00–16:00 and 19:00–01:00

Note: Where these timings differ to those for the country where the assessment is being undertaken, it is possible to use an equivalent to the BREEAM requirements stated; however this must be approved by BRE Global. The BREEAM Communities Approved standards list can be used to check for previously approved standards or to propose a new national or local standard.