Mode Transport Planning

15/10/2026

Great to attend the Last Mile & Industrial Power Conference 2026 this week as a sponsoring partner.

Our London Director, Chris Holdup, joined a panel discussion exploring whether the new NPPF could help unlock more strategic industrial land and what this might mean for the future of industrial and logistics development.

With planning policy continuing to evolve, it was encouraging to see so many industry professionals sharing ideas, challenges and opportunities across the sector.

At mode, we're passionate about helping clients unlock development opportunities through practical, commercially focused transport and infrastructure advice, so it was fantastic to be part of the discussion.

Thank you to everyone involved in organising such a successful event!

08/10/2026

Transport for London’s new Sustainable Access Measure (SAM) could have important implications for London development.

SAM takes a different approach to assessing accessibility, looking at how easily people can reach jobs, services and amenities by public transport and walking.

So, what does this mean for developers?

🔸 SAM could influence development density and parking provision under the draft London Plan
🔸 It will be used alongside PTAL, rather than replacing it
🔸 The new measure could provide greater differentiation between sites, particularly across Outer London
🔸 There are still questions around how SAM will be applied and how scores can be challenged or verified

With the draft London Plan consultation closing on 15 October 2026, understanding how SAM could affect individual sites is becoming increasingly important.

Our latest article explores the new measure in more detail and what developers should be considering now.

👉 Read the full article:

Explore what TfL's Sustainable Access Measure means for London development, how it differs from PTAL and what it means for sites and applications.

06/09/2026

We’re proud to be sponsoring the Hampton 2 Lakes Run on Sunday 20 September 2026! 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️

At Mode Transport Planning we believe in supporting healthy and mindful activities that bring people together and make a positive difference within our communities.

Starting and finishing at Hampton-in-Arden Sports Club, the inclusive 6.2km route—also available as a 12km challenge—is open to runners of all ages and abilities. Most importantly, the event will raise vital funds and awareness for the British Heart Foundation.

We’re delighted to play our part and look forward to seeing the local community getting active, supporting one another and enjoying a fantastic day.

Find out more and register: Hampton 2 Lakes Run



https://www.hampton2lakesrun.co.uk/

28/08/2026

Last week, our London team held its Annual Summer Meeting 🙌

It was a brilliant afternoon away from the office, giving us the chance to celebrate a year of hard work and progress, and look ahead with excitement for what’s next.

Our Associate Directors Matt and James led a fantastic session, shaped by anonymous feedback from across the team – ensuring we focused on the things that matter.

It was followed by an open conversation about future priorities, opportunities and areas where we can continue to improve.

We finished the afternoon with a bit of friendly competition and quality team time at Flight Club Bloomsbury. A great way to end a productive and positive day!

11/07/2026

Today is mode's 14th birthday, and what better way to celebrate it than a summer getaway with our very own employees.

We hope you had wonderful time, and thank you all for being part of such an amazing team! A special shoutout to River Wye Activity Centre and the weather, for making this a day to remember ☀️ 🛶 🎉

21/05/2026

Meanwhile away from UKREiiF in Leeds…

An amazing night for Aston Villa Football Club and the city Birmingham our home city! 💜💙🧡

A huge congratulations to all the players, coaching team, staff and everyone connected with the club on becoming UEFA Europa League winners.

44 years since the last taste of European silverware… and what a way to do it. A special moment for the club, the city and the supporters who have backed Villa every step of the journey.

From all of us at mode transport planning congratulations and the city will enjoy every second of it with you🏆

11/03/2026

Planning new communities around people… instead of traffic models!

A proposed £5bn new town at Heyford Park in Oxfordshire submitted by Dorchester Living is making headlines this week, and it highlights something important; showing that UK developers can still think big when it comes to planning. ‘New towns' give us a rare opportunity to do something we often struggle with in the planning system, planning sustainable infrastructure properly from the start.
· not retrofitted
· not reactive
· more vision-led

Sadly, too much transport planning historically has followed a “predict and provide” approach:
· forecast traffic
· increase road capacity.
· repeat ad infinitum

But, in designing new sustainable communities, we started somewhere else entirely. What kind of place do we want to create?

At mode transport planning, we were proud to support the Heyford Park planning application that has been submitted to Cherwell District Council by preparing a detailed Vision-Led Transport Assessment, which means planning transport around:
• walkable neighbourhoods
• active travel
• public transport connectivity
• new rail opportunity
• lower car dependence
• integrated land use planning
• healthy, thriving places

In short, design the place, then decide and design how people move around it.
Heyford Park is already a remarkable regeneration story: transforming a former RAF airbase into a growing community. The next phase could become one of the UK’s most significant new settlements. And if we can get schemes like this right, by working closely with Oxfordshire County Council, we will be able to showcase how the UK should deliver the next generation of our new towns:
• visionary thinking.
• long-term planning.
• sustainable communities.




https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/2171647/brand-new-5bn-uk-town-oxfordshire #

EXCLUSIVE: More than 1,200 homes have already been built in addition to a hotel, school, a Sainsbury's and other facilities.

06/01/2026

Just under two weeks to go… , we’re coming for you! ⛷️🔥
mode transport planning is heading back to the mountains: ready to network hard, ski harder, and connect with brilliant people across the property development industry.
If you’re out there this year, come and find James Werby, Elliott Place or David Frisby — on the lifts, at après, or somewhere between fondue and first chair.
We’re always up for a chat about:

…plus skiing stories, bad dancing in clubs and who actually made first lift 😎
See you on the mountain. Let’s make 2026 the best one yet

27/11/2025

At Mode Transport Planning, we don’t just work hard… we play hard too!

To celebrate our Christmas party this year, the whole team is taking on a special mode Traitors at a mysterious hotel location in deepest Warwickshire: complete with faithful’s, plotting, missions, traitors and (of course) plenty of laughs! It is the perfect reminder of what makes working the so special:

⭐ A culture built on fun
⭐ A team that genuinely enjoys spending time together
⭐ Core values that bring out the best in everyone

Whether we’re delivering projects or trying to figure out who’s secretly “murdering” us at the round table, we show up with integrity, passion, and a sense of adventure!

…the question this year is who are the mode faithful?
We’ll soon find out… 👀🕵️‍♂️

20/10/2025

We’re incredibly proud to share that Morgan Paine, one of our transport planners in our Birmingham office, has been named the winner in the Built Environment and Engineering category (Sponsored by Lodders Solicitors LLP) at the Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards 2025 hosted by Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.

Read the full story here: https://modetransport.co.uk/news/morgan-paine-named-bypy-2025-award-winner/

We’re incredibly proud to share that Morgan Paine has been named the winner in the Built Environment and Engineering category at the Greater Birmingham Young Professional of the Year Awards 2025.