Travel plan monitoring fees and contributions
A travel plan submitted by an applicant would need to meet the requirements set out in this guidance. The costs of each option and their reasons are outlined in table one.
Applicants are responsible for funding and applying their own travel plan. This includes:
- providing incentives to travel sustainably
- the appointment of a travel plan coordinator
- conducting monitoring
- applying helpful measures should targets not be met
This will be paid by the owner to the Council. It will cover the costs throughout the life of the travel plan, including:
- monitoring
- reviewing
- providing feedback
Table one, alongside our list of planning validation requirements states:
- the thresholds for travel plan statements, and
- full travel plans
It also reference the related monitoring costs.
If we require a travel plan, even if the need is not shown in the table, we can request this at any time.
Following the sale of any site, the commitments contained within the travel pack and travel plan will be transferred to any new:
- owners
- managing agents
This will remain in place for the life of both the:
- travel plan
- travel pack
Threshold for monitoring fees
Table 1
| Classification | Threshold | Monitoring fee (minimum)* | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels (C1) | Inc 50 bedrooms or more | £1,500 pa | 5 yrs |
| New Residential Institutions (C2) | Inc 50 or more students or 30 or more hospital beds | £1,000 pa | 5 yrs |
| Residential development (C3) | 20 to 49 dwellings | £1,000 pa | 5 yrs |
| Residential development (C3) | 50 – 79 dwellings | £1,500 pa | 5 yrs |
| Residential development (C3) | 80 dwellings or more | £4,000 pa | 5 yrs |
*Fees are correct as of 2025. View our fees and charges document to see the most up to date charges. Fees are indexed linked in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI)
Those that are decided on a case by case basis include:
- Business Development E(g)
- Financial Services E(c)
- General Industrial Development B2
- Storage and Distribution Development B8
- Food Retail development E(a)
- Non-food retail development E(a)
- Food/Drink E(b), Sui Generis
- Schools and nurseries, provision of education (F1)(a)
- Creche, day nursery or day centre (not including residential use) E(f)
We also need a non-refundable monitoring deposit for full travel plans covering five years. Further monitoring deposits will be needed for developments phased beyond a five year period. If a travel plan is needed for any size of development, there is a minimum charge of £1000 per year for up to 5 years.
See our list of planning validation requirements for further guidance on development thresholds.
Bonds
In some circumstances, the applicant may be asked for a repayable bond on successful completion of the travel plan.
Alternatively, they could be asked to keep applying helpful measures if the developer or managing agent does not:
- meet set targets
- comply with Section 106 conditions
This bond is on top of the costs to apply your own travel plan. The bond is refundable on successful completion having met all the targets. However, the monitoring contribution is not.
For example:
The Owner hereby agrees with the Council that it will pay:
- (b) a bond in the sum of £XXX pounds
- (c) a monitoring contribution of £XXX