NRP puts the vision into vision-led transport planning
Taking the lead in vision-led transport planning, NRP is pioneering the use of Disney method workshops to develop future-focused transport vision statements.
Inspired by Walt Disney’s creative process, this approach encourages workshop participants to consider the transport requirements for a new development through the eyes of three complementary personas: the Dreamer, the Realist and the Critic.
NRP’s adoption of this creative workshop method was rooted in our director Dr David Knight’s PhD research on transport planning practice in large-scale housing developments in England. He discovered that many of the ‘visions’ behind such developments are not really very visionary.
This is understandable in the case of transport planning, which for decades took a ‘predict and provide’ approach – forecasting future travel patterns based on what happened in the past. As a result, transport planners have tended to focus on car use and traffic growth.
This step change should result in transport plans becoming better aligned with transport policy ‒ which emphasises modal shifts to active travel and public transport. But to maximise this opportunity, transport planners need to ensure that our vision statements are clear, meaningful, specific to each development and – of course – visionary.
A concerning lack of vision behind the planning applications for large-scale housing developments
David’s research revealed a lack of vision in the planning process for large-scale housing developments. Interviewing senior transport and planning professionals, he found they often had only a vague idea of the vision behind the development: “a residential estate”, for example, or “a sustainable location for development”.
One experienced planning officer defined the vision as: “…high quality, well connected urban extension which adopts a green infrastructure-led approach and embraces sustainability at all levels to provide an exceptional place for people to live, work and play.” He then added: “Sounds like the sort of thing that is trotted out most times.”
It’s concerning that the transport visions behind many large-scale housing developments are so poorly conceived and/or articulated that the planning officers appear to view them as meaninglessly generic.
Using the Disney method to create a meaningful transport planning vision
With the ambition of creating a genuinely vision-led transport strategy for a proposed new community in North Somerset, David and his team trialled using the Disney method. At a workshop facilitated by NRP, representatives of the developers and the local highway authorities considered the development from the perspective of the Dreamer, the Realist and the Critic.
As dreamers, they created a vision of the future – what they would like to have and the benefits of having it. For example: “Attractive, well-lit, segregated and overlooked direct pedestrian and cycle routes linking all local on-site and off-site services. People will naturally use these wherever possible.”
As realists, the participants considered what would be needed to create a concrete plan for realising the vision. For example: “Staged approach to vehicle accesses being provided, to avoid over-provision of private car route options.”
And finally, as critics, participants thought about whether their dream was desirable, achievable and sustainable. Who or what might stand in the way of the plan or undermine its success? For example: “Will locals feel isolated if they can’t drive from A to B on the shortest route?”
After careful analysis of all the workshop responses, NRP drew up a succinct vision statement:
“Our vision is to shape an accessible development for all, that is climate conscious, being Active Travel led with lower car use and served by attractive and safe transport infrastructure, facilities and services. This will be done through a collaborative approach and supported by leading edge evidenced based assessment, design and implementation.”
Expert facilitation enables imagination and wisdom in vision-led transport planning
Not everyone finds it easy to adopt each of the Disney method personas. Dreaming, in particular, can be a challenge for participants whose work is mostly focused on engaging with regulatory requirements.
A workshop, therefore, needs to be guided by a skilled facilitator, who can clearly explain the method and give participants the confidence to fully embrace each persona. This enables stakeholders to collaborate to develop a holistic, achievable and sustainable transport vision based on their combined imagination and wisdom.
Excited by the potential of the Disney method, we are able to embrace it as part of our well established expertise as workshop facilitators. We are keen to promote its use in visioning workshops, not only for large-scale housing developments but also for any project requiring a transport plan.
