General
Yes. The strategy aims to reduce unnecessary car trips, not ban cars. Essential journeys will still be supported.
No. The Movement Strategy is about rebalancing street space to support more sustainable travel choices. Cars will still be part of the network, especially for essential users.
Improved public spaces and transport options will attract more visitors and customers, supporting local businesses and the economy.
Changes will be phased over 10 years, with short-term improvements by 2027 and long-term goals by 2035. Please click here to see the timeline.
While all three consultations are running at the same time and share some overlapping themes, each has a distinct focus:
- Local Plan Options:
This consultation is about shaping how communities and places in Bath and North East Somerset will develop over the next 15–20 years. It sets out the overall strategy for housing, jobs, infrastructure and the environment. Find out more about the Local Plan here: www.bathnesplaces.co.uk/localplan - Movement Strategy:
This strategy looks at how we use our streets and transport networks. Its aim is to prioritise sustainable travel (like walking, wheeling cycling and public transport), reduce congestion, and create a fairer, more accessible network for everyone - residents, businesses, and visitors. www.banestransport.co.uk - A4 Bath to Bristol Project:
This is a specific transport project focused on infrastructure proposals for the A4 corridor between Bath and Bristol. It aims to improve travel between the two cities by encouraging more bus travel and making it easier to walk and cycle along the route.
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While the Movement Strategy for Bath focuses on Bath itself, it recognises the wider B&NES area - including rural communities like the Chew Valley - and outlines several measures that would benefit residents travelling into Bath from surrounding areas. It would:
- Make public transport into Bath more reliable and attractive for working and leisure use.
- Improve access to active travel routes and infrastructure, including suport for e-bikes and e-scooters.
- Provide better facilities and extended hours at interchange hubs for travel options.
- Reduce congestion and pollution in Bath, improving the travel experience.
- Encourage a shift from vehicle use to sustainable modes through incentives and infrastructure.
- Improve access to public transport and reduce car dependency.
- Enhance walking and cycling infrastructure.
- Support cleaner air and healthier communities.
- Connect Chew Valley more effectively to Bath, Bristol, and other key destinations.
The JLTP4 is due to be reviewed, as part of creating a refreshed Regional Transport Strategy led by the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, later in 2026.
The term Movement Strategy better reflects the holistic and layered approach being taken to address different journey types in Bath. Rather than focusing solely on traffic flow or circulation, the strategy integrates short-, medium-, and long-term interventions - ranging from local walking and cycling improvements to school travel improvements and upgrading the current park and ride sites.
This approach aligns with expert advice to present the options not as alternatives, but as complementary layers that together support sustainable and inclusive mobility across the city. It also emphasises long-term transformation, beyond just managing vehicle circulation.
The University of Bath attracts a significant number of students and staff from surrounding areas during term time, making it an important transport hub. Recognising this location as an interchange ensures that facilities meet best practice and industry standards. In addition, further work is needed to explore opportunities linked to off-peak events, particularly for those who can walk, wheel or cycle to the site, and to improve bus connectivity into and out of the city centre.
Accessibility
Accessibility is a core part of the strategy. We’re improving step-free access, crossings, and inclusive transport options for disabled and older residents.
Yes. The strategy includes widening pavements, improving crossings, and ensuring pram- and wheelchair-friendly bus access.
Around 20% of households in B&NES don’t have access to a car. The strategy prioritises walking, wheeling, cycling, and public transport to ensure equitable access.
Transport options
Yes. Bus priority corridors, better traffic management, and improved interchange hubs will reduce delays and improve reliability.
Yes. The Active Travel Masterplan includes protected cycle routes and improved infrastructure for walking, wheeling, and cycling. Find out more about the Active Travel Masterplan here.
The strategy includes plans for flexible rural bus routes and better road maintenance to support access from villages and fringe areas.
Yes. The strategy supports the rollout of EV chargers and car clubs to reduce emissions and support sustainable travel.