[Source: Suffolk County Council]

More than 20 residential developments across Suffolk have been recognised for their efforts in encouraging sustainable and active travel.

A total of 21 new-build schemes have received Modeshift STARS Bronze awards in its Community Accreditation Scheme.

This encourages residential developments and communities across England to implement their own travel plans to cut down on car use and instead increase sustainable and active travel to improve health and well-being of residents.

To receive the accreditation, developers behind the housing schemes had to deliver initiatives for residents to travel by sustainable transport.

This included offering public transport tickets, cycle vouchers, on-site event days, bike maintenance sessions and inviting local police safer neighbourhood teams to register bikes.

Some developments worked with their catchment primary schools to reduce car trips to schools and promote messages around the health benefits of active travel and improving air quality.

The development companies involved were:

  • Barratt Homes
  • Bellway Homes
  • Bloor Homes
  • Charles Church Homes
  • Countryside Partnerships
  • Crest Nicolson
  • Hopkins Homes
  • Persimmon Homes
  • Taylor Wimpey

Councillor Richard Smith, Cabinet member for Economic Development, Transport Strategy and Waste, said:

“Congratulations to all these development schemes for their hard work in earning these accreditations.

“Modeshift STARS is an ideal way for communities to come together and reduce the impact of car use by making active travel an attractive alternative.”

Nick Butler, Business Director at Modeshift, said:

“Suffolk County Council is really leading the way when it comes to securing effective Residential Travel Plans.

“This outstanding achievement is testament to their commitment to ensuring developers are committed to promoting and enabling sustainable travel. These results are an inspiration for local authorities across the country that are looking to achieve similar outcomes.”