Policy I/TH: Travel hub facilities

1. Proposals for new travel hub sites in appropriate locations and the intensification of existing travel hub sites will be supported in principle, subject to the satisfactory assessment of the proposed development’s transport effects, and the demonstration of the need for and feasibility of such development. 

2. Subject to other development plan policies, applications for supporting facilities at existing travel hubs or park and ride sites will be supported where it can be demonstrated that: 

  a. they complement and do not undermine the site’s primary function as a strategic public transport facility. Drive-through facilities will not be supported; 

  b. they are integrated as part of the wider travel hub site in such a way that enhances the experience of public transport users and helps to promote public transport use; 

  c. existing buildings have been used, where possible; 

  d. any new buildings, street furniture and signage are of a scale and design appropriate to the location; 

  e. they do not undermine the vitality and viability of designated retail centres; and 

  f. they support the extended, safe use of park and ride sites throughout the day and into the evening for workers, guests and day visitors. 

3. Proposals seeking to redevelop existing travel hubs or park and ride sites such that they can no longer serve a strategic public transport function will only be considered acceptable where it is demonstrated that there is no local need for the facility and suitable alternative provision is available to serve the needs of the wider transport network. This must include an assessment of the transport impacts of the proposed development. 

To maintain a high-quality environment across

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

and reduce congestion on our transport network, we need to make it easy for car users, particularly those travelling to the City, to complete their journeys using alternative, sustainable modes of transport. The ability for people to change between transport modes is integral to improve the efficiency of the transport system and can be an important factor in reducing car dependency for whole journeys. The traditional form of “interchange” is the Park & Ride (P&R). P&R sites in

The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

are serviced by a high- frequency, direct bus service and form part of a wider transport strategy, which promotes modal shifts from private vehicle to public transport and active travel. 

The

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

seeks to build on the success of Cambridge’s P&R facilities to ensure they can continue to be a viable, realistic sustainable alternative to car use for whole journeys, both day and night. There is great potential for the function of traditional P&R sites to be expanded to become “travel hubs” (or “mobility hubs”) that enable interchange between a range of modes transport and in a range of directions, rather than solely moving people from their car to a bus, or from Cambridge’s periphery to the city centre. This includes increasing the service and facility offer at traditional P&R sites and other strategic improvements identified in the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Transport and Connectivity Plan. The creation of travel hubs and the creation of linked trips can play an important role in reducing road-traffic congestion in urban areas, vehicle-related pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and the risks of road- traffic accidents. 

Supporting facilities can enhance the offer of travel hub sites and enable linked trips. Supporting facilities can include safe and secure cycle parking, micro mobility hire and charging stations (for electric bikes and e-scooters), electric vehicle charging points, and walking infrastructure. More widely, they could also include complementary facilities such as renewable energy generation, micro-consolidation centres, cafés, and small shops, which will be considered and supported subject to impact assessment. Drive- throughs and other such uses that are considered to be in conflict with the travel hub’s primary function of transferring people from cars to other sustainable modes of transport to complete their onwards journey will not be considered supporting facilities when applying this policy. 

Supporting facilities should complement the Travel Hub site’s primary transport functions. The design and location of park and ride facilities should be sympathetic to the character of the area, and they should not result in any significant harm to highways safety. Where cafés, and small shops are proposed, the Local Planning Authorities will expect planning applications to consider the commercial viability of the proposed development through the submission of a Business Case. Planning conditions and obligations may also be used to secure aspects of the development needed to sustain the long-term viability of the supporting facility or the wider travel hub site (e.g. controlling the operational hours of a supporting facility or securing contributions towards or the cross-subsidy of proposed facilities). 

Travel hubs do not need to be limited to large-scale, edge-of-city sites, but can also include smaller, more local, mobility hubs. Such hubs can be tailored to meet the need of the locality and include a mix of transport opportunities relevant to the travel demand of the place. 

Where proposals seek to introduce or redevelop travel hubs, the Local Planning Authorities will expect planning applications to include a

A comprehensive and systematic process that sets out transport issues relating to a proposed development. It identifies measures required to improve accessibility and safety for all modes of travel, particularly for alternatives to the car such as walking, cycling and public transport, and measures that will be needed deal with the anticipated transport impacts of the development.

that, in addition to other requirements set out within the

This refers to development in its widest sense, including buildings, and streets, spaces and places. It also refers to both redevelopment, including refurbishment, as well as new development.

Plan, provides details of: 

• changes to the overall modal share created by the proposal; 
• the future viability of public transport services, including those that will experience loss of patronage as a result of the new facility; and 
• any mitigation measures required to address any negative highways or transport impacts caused by the development. 

Where proposals are located in the

A statutory designation made for the purposes of checking the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas, preventing neighbouring towns from merging into each other, assisting in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment, preserving the setting and special character of historic towns and assisting in urban regeneration by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land. Specific Green Belt purposes have been set out for Cambridge.

, they will need to comply with national green belt policy requirements. 

• The combined areas of Cambridge District and South Cambridgeshire District Councils.

  A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

  : Topic Paper 8:

  Includes transport, energy, water, waste, digital/smart, social and green infrastructure.

  (2025)
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Transport and Connectivity Plan (2023)

We will consider all comments while developing the next version of the

A plan for the future development of a local area, drawn up by the local planning authority in consultation with the community. In law this is described as the development plan documents adopted under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. A local plan can consist of either strategic or non-strategic policies, or a combination of the two.

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All comments must be received by 30 January 2026 at 5pm.