9.1 High quality connections by road, rail, bus, walking, cycling or digital, are all vital to the City's future economic prosperity and social inclusiveness. These connections provide access to education, employment, business, retail and leisure opportunities.
9.2 Transport is an enabler for economic growth and for the City to successfully deliver its sustainable growth agenda it will need to develop its existing transport networks ensuring that they provide an effective, efficient and comprehensive public transport system, high quality routes and environments for pedestrians and cyclists, an efficient road network and modern digital infrastructure. In addition to improvements to its internal connections, the City will need to secure further improvements in connectivity with commuter towns and surrounding areas, to the rest of the country and internationally in order to attract investment and support access to jobs.
9.3 An efficient, comprehensive and sustainable transport system is an essential element in supporting the City's economic competitiveness, meeting the targets for reducing CO2 emissions and enabling the delivery of sustainable development. Promoting sustainable transport modes will help re-balance the focus to those modes that have lower emissions and contribute to creating a higher quality environment across the City.
| Policy TP38 A sustainable transport network | ||||||||||||||
The development of a sustainable, high quality, integrated transport system, where the most sustainable mode choices also offer the most convenient means of travel, will be supported. The delivery of a sustainable transport network will require:
Implementation
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9.4 A key principle for the transport network is to make the existing connections as efficient as possible, ensuring the movement of as many people as possible in the most sustainable and safest way. Achieving this will require a road user hierarchy that favours sustainable modes of transport. Any development of the transport network will need to consider the impact of schemes on different road users and take this hierarchy into account to resolve competing demands. It will be necessary to strike a balance between the needs of road users and the function of different routes.
9.5 The City Council is developing the Birmingham Mobility Action Plan (BMAP) and will work with public and private sector partners to develop the City's transport system in a way which supports national goals for transport and local targets for reducing emissions of pollutants (including greenhouse gases), supports sustainable housing and community growth and addresses the changing needs of the City's communities.
In particular, the City Council will seek to ensure that transport initiatives promote:
9.6 The West Midlands Local Transport Plan (2011 to 2026)contains various targets for improving transport and reducing its impacts. The Local Transport Plan also contains accessibility targets for access to key services by public transport and active travel. Centro's 'Towards a World Class Integrated Transport Network' document sets out a high level vision for achieving a world class public transport system. The BDP supports and complements the approach set out in these documents.
9.7 Transport has a range of impacts on the environment. It is a major source of CO2 (accounting for 25% of the City's CO2 emissions) and it also contributes to poor air quality in the form of Nitrogen Dioxides, Particulate Matter and other emissions which are known to have consequences for health and life expectancy. Transport also requires infrastructure which requires land take and space. A balance must be struck between how much of our urban area should be developed to provide transport capacity against other uses.
9.8 Opportunities to minimise these impacts by reducing the need to travel, and through the use of alternative more sustainable transport and less polluting modes will be taken unless there is a good justification as to why this is not possible.
9.9 The Smarter Choices initiative, which provides a range of 'soft' transport policy measures aimed at providing and promoting a package of initiatives for influencing people's behaviour towards more sustainable modes will be important in changing attitudes and approaches to travel. Smarter Choice measures can be introduced through the planning process and developed to address transport impacts arising from new developments through a range of measures including:
9.10 TravelWise is a national campaign to encourage people to think about the impact that their daily journeys have on the environment, their community and on their own health. TravelWise schemes can also help people to look for more environmentallyfriendly alternatives to driving alone, such as car sharing, using public transport, walking or cycling. People can save money and improve their health whilst helping to reduce congestion, air and noise pollution and the negative effects of road traffic.
Metro extension
9.11 Walking plays an integral part in the day to day life of most people. The provision of a safe and pleasant walking environment has a significant role to play in supporting quality of life and encouraging active travel.
| Policy TP39 Walking | ||||||||||||||
The provision of safe and pleasant walking environments throughout Birmingham will be promoted. In particular this will include:
Implementation
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9.12 The Transport Strategy for Birmingham places pedestrians at the top of the road user hierarchy with the commitment to encouraging walking as a safe, attractive and convenient means of getting around the city. The City Council is continuing to improve public realm environments, improve walking routes through the provision of dropped kerbs and pedestrian crossing facilities, and develop way finding facilities through a variety of media and community safety initiatives with a view to ensuring that walking is a safe option for as many people as possible. Interconnect Birmingham,for example, has been introduced to improve wayfinding through the streets and spaces in the City Centre.
9.13 Birmingham's Rights of Way Improvement Plan (ROWIP) and the definitive map of routes support Birmingham's commitment to preserving walking routes across the City and improving their level of maintenance.
9.14 The Department for Transport's Creating Growth, Cutting Carbon document endorses the promotion of walking as an efficient, environmentally friendly and healthy option for making shorter journeys. Increased walking is promoted through 'Smarter Choices' measures which aim to promote more sustainable alternatives to single occupancy car use.
9.15 Improvements to the public realm will be prioritised to improve primary routes first, and secondary and tertiary routes will then follow. To complement these major interventions, more localised spaces throughout the City Centre, for example, will be improved and created. This network will be explored further in a detailed public realm strategy for the City Centre.
9.16 Cycling contributes towards reducing carbon emissions and improving air quality. As a form of active travel it can assist with the adoption of healthier lifestyles and managing the use of the City's transport network more efficiently.
9.17 Cycling has the potential to significantly contribute to the sustainable movement of people around Birmingham and as a mode of travel it can replace many car trips.
| Policy TP40 Cycling | ||||||||||||||
Cycling will be encouraged through a comprehensive city-wide programme of cycling infrastructure improvements (both routes and trip end facilities) supported by a programme of cycling promotion, accessible cycling opportunities, training and travel behavioural change initiatives. This will include:
Implementation
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9.18 Cycling is increasingly seen as an essential component of successful 21st century cities moving towards sustainability and offering a healthy lifestyle. It can provide a means for residents from across the City to access areas of employment by affordable and sustainable transport. Cycling is still at a low level in Birmingham, comprising only 1-2% of total trips.
9.19 Birmingham has some good cycling infrastructure, but this is characterised by a number of off-road routes and canal towpaths. There is a relative lack of infrastructure to provide an appropriate cycling environment on busier roads. These roads tend to be the most well known and direct routes to major destinations, and use of them is almost unavoidable for some part of any urban cycling journey.
9.20 The 'Birmingham Cycle Revolution' sets out a 20 year strategy to provide a network of new and improved cycle routes. Phase 1 of this Strategy will focus on an area within 20 minutes cycling time from the City Centre. Later phases will extend this provision beyond this area to the wider City.
9.21 Infrastructure improvements will be supported by cycle training provision, access to bikes, promotional activities and travel behaviour initiatives.
Cycle route
9.22 There is a continuing need to improve public transport facilities including interchanges so that access to places of employment, education, shopping, medical, cultural, leisure and social facilities is an attractive and viable alternative to private transport.
| Policy TP41 Public transport | ||||||||||||||
| Bus and Coach | ||||||||||||||
The bus remains by far the most important mode of public transport in Birmingham. There continues to be a challenge in making bus travel attractive as a sustainable alternative to the private car. The City Council will continue to work with Centro and bus operators to improve the bus network by:
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| Rail | ||||||||||||||
Proposals to enhance the City's rail network will be supported, including:
The Council will continue to protect land within the designated HS2 Safeguarding Area. The area covered by the most recently issued Safeguarding Direction, at the time of the adoption of this plan, is shown on the Policies Map. Further updated Safeguarding Directions, which would supersede the HS2 Safeguarding Area shown on the Policies Map, may be issued by the Secretary of State for Transport and will be available at: www.hs2.org.uk/developing-hs2/safeguarding |
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| Rapid Transit - Midland Metro and Bus Rapid Transit | ||||||||||||||
The development and extension of metro/bus rapid transit to facilitate improvement/enhancement in the public transport offer on key corridors and to facilitate access to development and employment will be supported. This will include cross-boundary routes, for example to the Black Country. In particular support for:
Implementation
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9.23 The bus remains by far the most important mode of public transport in Birmingham and is certain to remain so for the foreseeable future. The design and location of new development will need to ensure that travel between destinations by bus is as attractive and viable an option as possible. It is important that buses are easily accessible to and from, and able to penetrate residential and employment areas and offer a good choice of destinations to serve the needs of passengers.
9.24 Centro works with transport operators and the West Midlands metropolitan councils to promote and develop public transport throughout the West Midlands. Centro does not directly operate bus services, which are operated by a number of private operators on a commercial basis. However, Centro does provide subsidy support for non-profitable, but in-demand, services.
9.25 Coach travel is also important as a sustainable mode of travel with over 2 million visits made by the Group Travel Market to the City each year, and worth over £130 million to the local economy.
9.26 The City sits at the heart of the UK's railway network. Between 2001 and 2011 the number of passengers travelling into the City Centre by rail has increased by 60%. This has coincided with improved frequencies and journey times on the West Coast Main and Chiltern Lines together with investment in rolling stock. The City's suburban rail network is of only limited size and in need of further enhancement in order to meet the growing demand. HS2 provides further opportunities to enhance local and regional rail services by releasing network capacity.
9.27 The City Centre has three main line stations - New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill. New Street Station is a key gateway into Birmingham City Centre. £600 million of planned investment (Gateway Project) is transforming the station into a bright, modern transport hub for the City and will support greater visitor and commuter numbers.
9.28 However, the City's suburban rail network is of only limited size and in need of enhancement, particularly as levels of commuting are rising and journey lengths increasing. There are no local train services to existing stations on lines from Birmingham to Tamworth and Nuneaton and there are no local stations or local passenger services on the following lines:
The delivery of the Camp Hill Chord and Water Orton Corridor schemes are required to enable these local services, whilst offering additional benefits to help relieve capacity constraints at New Street Station and the national rail freight network running through the region.
9.29 Centro manage a number of Park and Rides within the City that are linked to suburban rail stations. Currently these sites provide over 2200 parking spaces. These are supplemented by additional sites in the other West Midlands Districts which provide additional capacity and reduce the length of commuter car trips on Birmingham's road network. There is potential to increase park and ride provision alongside proposals to increase the capacity of the suburban rail network. In some cases this may require decked car parking to be provided at suburban stations along with localised access improvements and controlled parking measures. In addition, pedestrian and cyclist accessibility may need improvement to enhance modal interchange including at Five Ways Station on the edge of the City Centre.
9.30 Rapid Transit provides a fast and reliable travel mode which can encourage more sustainable travel patterns, improve access to key employment locations and complement the City's existing bus and heavy rail public transport networks. As such, it is a key component of the City Council's Birmingham Connected transport strategy.
9.31 The City's Metro line between Snow Hill station and Wolverhampton has been extended to New Street Station and Centenary Square, with a further extension proposed to Five Ways Edgbaston. To augment existing local bus and heavy rail services on certain key corridors, options are being considered for the route connecting Birmingham City Centre and Birmingham Airport/Solihull which would serve major growth, development and regeneration sites in the City Centre, Meadway, Bordesley Park, Birmingham Business Park and the NEC, before connecting to Birmingham Airport/Solihull. The system would also serve HS2 stations, with initial extensions planned to Eastside, the Curzon High Speed 2 station and Adderley Street. Consideration is also being given to the introduction of alternative rapid transit systems including SPRINT/bus rapid transit, with a range of corridors identified in the City Council's Birmingham Connected transport strategy. Such services would be fast and reliable, operate with high quality vehicles and where practically possible have priority use of the highway network. Key routes include connecting the City Centre with the Airport (via A45), Bartley Green, Kingstanding, Longbridge, Maypole/Druids Heath, Quinton, Sutton Coldfield and Walsall. Movements will also be considered on the Outer Circle/ Route 11 orbital along with cross boundary services. Interchange between modes will be strongly supported, with good access for pedestrians and cyclists forming key elements of all scheme proposals. The design of SPRINT/ bus rapid transit routes will be undertaken so as to not preclude future Metro operations.
9.32 The High Speed 2 (HS2) Safeguarding Zone is a designation put in place by the Government. Safeguarding means that, except where that type of application for planning permission is exempted, LPAs must consult HS2 Ltd on any application for planning permission, or undecided applications for planning permission, which fall within the safeguarded areas. HS2 Ltd must then respond to the consultation within 21 days, or by an agreed date. If HS2 Ltd objects to a planning application and the LPA are minded to approve it, they must first notify the Secretary of State for Transport. The Secretary of State can within 21 days then either notify the LPA that he/she has no objections to permission being granted, or issue a direction restricting the granting of planning permission for that application. The purpose of the designation is to ensure that proposed developments within the safeguarded area do not negatively affect the delivery of the nationally important HS2 proposals. The designation does not necessarily mean that all of the land within the safeguarding zone will be required for the construction of HS2.
9.33 The efficient movement of freight is important to Birmingham's economy. Freight is a key component of traffic on the road network, with over 10% of traffic movements being either heavy or light goods vehicles, with light goods vehicles making up three quarters of total freight traffic.
| Policy TP42 Freight | ||||||||||||||
A well integrated freight distribution system which makes the most efficient and effective use of road, rail, air and water transport will be sought. Locations to support freight logistics will be required to
Where road haulage is involved in the transport of large volumes of freight or the carrying of bulk materials, planning conditions and obligations will be used to define and agree suitable traffic routes and the need for other necessary environmental and traffic management controls. Where freight movements result in negative environmental impacts, the Council will consider the use of restrictions on the size and type of vehicles and access restrictions at certain times to address this. Implementation
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9.34 All the items in the City’s shops, factories and homes have been transported at some point. The continuing modernisation of the City’s manufacturing base and the need to maintain its competitiveness mean that the efficient movement of goods to, from and within the City is vital.
9.35 Road haulage accounts for the bulk of freight movements within Birmingham and its levels are increasing. It is important to recognise the role of the Strategic Highway Network in providing access for freight movements and the need to provide the capacity necessary for efficient freight movements. A number of the Regional Transport Priorities will help to support this, for example, improvements to the Birmingham motorway network through Active Traffic Management. Within the City the needs of freight vehicles must be considered alongside other factors when considering the utilisation of road space and provision of new developments. In applying this policy the Council will also have regard to the West Midlands Metropolitan Freight Strategy and Centro's Urban Road Freight Network.
9.36 Proposals for the development of Freight/Construction Consolidation Centres which rationalise the number of deliveries to main shopping centres or areas of demand by managing and concentrating logistics and the flow of delivery vehicles are being considered.
9.37 Over recent years it has become more cost effective to transport certain items e.g. bulk materials, aggregates and large volumes of non-perishable goods by rail. At the same time the environmental credentials of rail are also increasingly being used to encourage its use as a lower carbon alternative to road freight. There are a number of active rail freight facilities in the City at Landor Street, Washwood Heath and Small Heath. A number of other sites have potential for future use as rail freight facilities. The development of the High Speed Rail line between Birmingham and London, linking to High Speed Line 1 and the Channel Tunnel would widen the opportunities for the transport of freight by rail.
9.38 Birmingham is also a major through route for rail freight. Support for rail freight improvements in Birmingham will assist with resolving freight issues in the wider region and would help relieve rail traffic congestion through Birmingham.
9.39 In 2010 freight activity for Birmingham Airport was 22,172 tonnes. In the Government's Consultation Document - The Future Development of Air Transport in the United Kingdom: The Midlands, published in 2002 prior to the White Paper in 2003, future levels were forecast to be 200,000 tonnes per year by 2030. The majority of freight growth and activity from Birmingham Airport is carried in the 'bellyholds' of scheduled passenger services. Future growth of freight activity at Birmingham Airport will be largely dependent upon the runway extension which will be operational in 2014, at which point it is estimated the Airport could have the capabilities to handle approximately 800,000 tonnes of mostly long-haul belly hold freight.
9.40 The existing network of canals in Birmingham also offers some potential for freight transport.
Rail freight
9.41 As a result of a number of factors including the need to address CO2 emissions, Government subsidy to support their uptake and rising fuel costs, alternative fuel and low emission vehicles are becoming increasingly common. There is therefore a need for the City to ensure it supports this both in terms of local journeys but acknowledging the City's central location as a key national destination.
| Policy TP43 Low emission vehicles | ||||||||||||||
Proposals for Low Emission Vehicles will be supported by:
Implementation
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9.42 Road transport accounts for some 25% of the City's CO2 emissions and is also the primary source of a number of health affecting pollutants including Nitrogen Dioxide. The City Council has carried out an extensive review and assessment of air quality which showed that the recommended level of nitrogen dioxide continues to be exceeded in several locations.
9.43 Supporting the uptake of low emission vehicles supports efforts to decarbonise road transport and address local air quality issues and will act as a stimulus for the green economy.
Low emission vehicles
9.44 Growth in car ownership and use is leading to increased congestion, poor air quality, community severance and more road traffic accidents. In order to facilitate a road transport network which operates as efficiently and sustainably as possible, measures to manage traffic and congestion are essential.
9.45 With the exception of the M6 (and small sections of the M6 Toll) the City Council's highway maintenance Private Finance Initiative (PFI) maintains almost two and half thousand kilometres of roads within Birmingham, which includes 96,000 street lights, 1,000 traffic signals and over 850 bridges, structures and tunnels. Managing and maintaining all these assets is included within the PFI project.
9.46 The City Council is responsible for the maintenance, management and selective improvement of these networks in order to maintain the movement of goods and people.
9.47 Working with the Highways Agency, transport operators and other agencies, the City Council will maintain a network which enhances the competitiveness of the region and improves accessibility within the region by providing journey time reliability, and supports the wider strategy, in particular regeneration and growth.
| Policy TP44 Traffic and congestion management | ||||||||||||||
The optimum use of existing highway infrastructure across all modes will be encouraged and priority investment in the highway network to support the city’s sustainable transport network and development agenda will be promoted. The efficient, effective and safe use of the existing transport network will be promoted through the following:
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| Highway Improvement Lines | ||||||||||||||
In order to deliver a number of the City’s aspirational highway improvements the City Council will maintain a number of highway improvement lines. The purpose of a Highway Improvement Line (HIL) is to protect land required for highway and public transport schemes from other development(s). To avoid the unnecessary and costly sterilisation of land, HILs will only be maintained:
Limited elements of the Strategic Highway Network will need upgrading to meet the requirements of the BDP and these are set out below. Elsewhere on the SHN only limited improvements are anticipated and will be delivered within available resources and other funding opportunities. HILs will continue to be reviewed to ensure they reflect the transport priorities of the BDP. It is the City Council’s intention to progressively lift past HILs as and when detailed SHN proposals are adopted. The following ‘Key HIL Schemes’ will be protected for transport improvements. Development(s) that would prejudice the proposed highway improvement will not be permitted:
The location of these improvement lines within the City are shown on the Policies Map. In addition, there are a number of smaller-scale improvement lines which will continue to be protected. Details of Implementation
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9.48 Birmingham’s Strategic Highway Network (SHN), is shown on the Policies Map. The roads which make up the SHN are those limited number of major routes where the wider public interest requires high capacity, a relatively free flow of traffic and limited frontage access. These are the roads that are critical in maintaining good accessibility within the City, be it directly to the City Centre or key areas within the City.
9.49 On roads which are not part of the SHN (the vast majority of roads in Birmingham), the presumption is that local considerations should predominate in any decision regarding those roads. The road user hierarchy together with considerations including environmental impact, road user safety, pedestrian and cyclist needs, access control and the function of the road will be key factors in planning future development and highway design and determining planning applications. However, in applying the hierarchy it will be necessary to strike a balance between the needs of different road users and the function of different types of routes.
9.50 The City's Strategic Highway Network comprises of the M6 and A38(M) Aston Expressway, which connects road users directly to the City Centre (via the Tame Valley Viaduct and the best known motorway junction in the UK, Spaghetti Junction) and the A road primary route network which is generally characterized by key corridors radiating out from the City Centre. These link the City to the national motorway network via the M5, M6 and M42 (which form the Birmingham Motorway Box/ Orbital) as well as the M6 Toll and M40. These roads will continue to be managed in ways which will ensure that their capacity is maintained or enhanced, and in order to achieve this, selective improvements will be promoted.
9.51 Roads form part of the urban landscape and help define areas of the City; the A4540 orbital 'Ring Road' forms an effective boundary to the City Centre and the radial routes provide areas prime for corridors of sustainable higher density development and links to many of the City's local centres.
9.52 A key challenge is that the highway transport network is under considerable pressure at peak times. Further, with competition for street space so high and the need to provide significant improvements to other modes, reductions in traffic capacity are likely to be required in places, coupled with the redistribution of capacity where appropriate.
9.53 The City Council recognises that parking is an essential requirement for many developments, but the level of parking will need to be balanced against a desire to encourage sustainable transport patterns and reducing emissions and congestion. The City's Parking SPD provides information on appropriate levels for various land uses. These are set out as maximums and the cycle/motorcycle and disabled car parking standards are minimums. The City Council will take account of whether there are any circumstances, related either to the site or the operation of the development, which may support an alternative level of parking.
9.54 Measures to maximise the effectiveness of the Strategic Highway Network by combining existing corridor-based initiatives such as Red Routes, Bus Showcase, Urban Traffic Management Control (UTMC) and Quick Wins funds, can deliver smoother traffic operations, provide priority and roadspace reallocation for specific users (e.g. for pedestrians, cyclists and buses), parking management and enhanced on-street controls.
9.55 The City Council is considering 20 mph schemes for residential streets and other town and city streets with high pedestrian and cyclist movement. There is clear and growing evidence on the effect of reducing traffic speeds through 20 mph schemes on the reduction of collisions and casualties. Other important benefits of 20 mph schemes include quality of life and community benefits, and encouragement of healthier and more sustainable transport modes such as walking and cycling. The introduction of 20 mph schemes has accelerated recently across the UK.
9.56 UTMC and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) have an important role for traffic control in Birmingham. A major scheme bid was approved in September 2008 by the Department for Transport for the West Midlands Urban Traffic Control systems. This scheme will improve communication and coordination between the seven Metropolitan UTC centres together with the Police, Highways England and public transport operators. This will enable information to be shared more quickly and efficiently. As part of the ITS development, the City Council will ensure that its Urban Traffic Management and Control system will improve on the efficient use of its existing road space and tackle road traffic congestion, particularly along major strategic corridors during peak hours.
9.57 This policy reflects the objectives and operation of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and the Council's duties as Highway Authority.
A34 at Perry Barr
9.58 Accessibility levels in Birmingham are generally good and it is important that this is maintained and improved as new development comes forward to ensure it is delivered in the most sustainable way.
| Policy TP45 Accessibility standards for new development | ||||||||||||||
All major developments which are likely to generate, either solely or in combination with other related developments, more than 500 persontrips per day should aim to provide:
Proposals for residential development should demonstrate that they are accessible to a range of local services such as General Practioners (GPs), Primary and Secondary Schools, local shops and open space. Implementation
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9.59 The most recent census information (2011) indicated that 35.8% of households in Birmingham do not own a car. The number of people without ready access to a car during much of the day is considerably higher than this. For example in Birmingham many teenagers are highly reliant on public transport. In addition, people who do drive and do have access to a car do not always want to use it. So, for a variety
of reasons, it is important that Birmingham residents have good pedestrian access to every-day local facilities and good public transport access to a wider choice of employment, education and leisure opportunities.
9.60 As a guide, ideally all development of 10 dwellings or more should be within:
9.61 In addition, residences that are not retirement dwellings, student accommodation or single-person
apartments should be within:
Centro’s accessibility standards can be found on Centro’s website: www.centro.org.uk/transport/bus/
access-standards
9.62 These criteria included are based on calculated journey times and distances that people are actually prepared to walk and assume a walking speed of 3 mph (4.8km/hr), where walks can be along footpaths and the relevant roads are easy to cross (for example refuges provided if necessary). Public transport journey times are based on including the walking elements but no initial wait time for a public transport service.
9.63 Digital technologies have been a major driving force in influencing and shaping industry and society in the last few years. Changes that are currently transforming our working, learning, leisure and community environments will need to be integrated into future developments.
| Policy TP46 Digital communications | ||||||||||||||
Technology developments and access to digital services such as the internet are critical to Birmingham’s economic, environmental and social development. Proposals for new commercial and residential developments should include appropriate infrastructure, wired and wireless, to provide high speed ubiquitous internet access. Provision of such connections should take into account:
The City Council recognises that this is an area where technological change is rapid and therefore standards will evolve and developers should seek to adopt the best current open technology standards available. In the City Centre, the City Council will develop a Unified Street Services Network that provides a seamless connection for a range of digital technologies, linking together all the street activities such as street lighting and car parking. The City Council will continue to develop its Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for Birmingham that enhances real-time and interactive information for users to navigate and explore the City by all modes of transport through:
Implementation
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9.64 In order for Birmingham to maintain its international competitiveness, sustain existing growth and attract new high value business, as well as to establish itself as a leading world-class Digital City, a 'connected' digital telecommunication infrastructure is needed. In addition, new developments will need to be 'future-proofed' with appropriate digital infrastructure that will meet both existing and future communication needs. It is essential that the City works with developers to ensure that the appropriate digital infrastructure is incorporated with new developments and other areas of regeneration.
9.65 These aspirations are set out in the document 'Birmingham's Smart City Vision' and 'Blueprint for a Smart City' which describe the interconnectivity and mutual dependencies between these digital goals and Birmingham's ability to ensure sustainable economic growth, reduce its carbon footprint and have a positive impact on people's lives.
9.66 With the emerging digital connectivity technologies, Birmingham has the opportunity to transform its street services, particularly in the areas of street lighting and off street public car parking. A Unified Street Services Network will provide the City Council with the ability to manage all its street devices in a centralized networked approach.
9.67 An Intelligent Transport System (ITS) is the integration of information and communications technology with transport infrastructure, vehicles and users. It enables information to be collected and shared in order to help people make more informed travel choices, improve journeys and helps to reduce the impact of transport on the environment. ITS incorporates a range of technologies from basic in-vehicle satellite navigation systems (Sat Nav) right through to traffic lights. Further development of ITS will enable the City Council to be more effective in managing its highway network and tackle congestion, particularly along major strategic corridors during peak hours.
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