We spent an hour discussing a new tool we have designed to help local authorities evaluate and improve the connectivity of development sites. Our goal is to use technology to help identify well-connected planning locations to reduce car dependency, make smarter use of land, and create genuinely sustainable communities.
The problem: Planning in isolation
The Government has ambitions to deliver 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament. This is a challenging target and will only be achieved if we take a different approach to how we plan for new development and address the challenges of:
- Unsuitable locations: Developments are often built in areas that cannot accommodate the required growth.
- Isolated greenfield sites: Greenfield sites often lack access to public transport and essential services.
- Low-density housing: Increases car dependency and reduces sustainability.
- Inefficient land use: Leads to wasted resources and underutilised spaces.
- Misaligned spatial and transport planning: A disconnect between development locations and transport infrastructure creates gaps in connectivity.
The impact: Lower density, higher costs
Without addressing these challenges, the result will continue to be fragmented, unsustainable development: sprawling estates with few amenities, poor transport links, and high land use for roads and parking. This makes daily life harder for residents and impacts developers’ viability and the overall environmental footprint of new housing.
The solution: A national connectivity tool
To combat this, the Department for Transport created a proof of concept for a National Connectivity Tool, and we have been helping them bring it to market.
This highly visual, interactive platform measures how easily people can access key destinations (schools, health services, work, shops) using sustainable modes of transport like walking, cycling, and public transport.
Every 100m² tile of the country is scored from 0 to 100 based on these factors, and planners can interact with the data in powerful ways. They can:
- Visualise connectivity on a heat map.
- Download custom reports.
- Upload site proposals to test how well-connected they are.
- Simulate changes, like adding new bus routes, to see how connectivity scores might improve.
This was a challenging brief. The tool is incredibly data heavy. Capable of handling trillions of calculations, it also needs to be simple to use, visually clear, and accessible. We tested every feature with real users and made changes based on feedback.
A connectivity planning tool with massive potential
This is a versatile tool. It is a game-changer for a wide variety of specialists:
- Local planning authorities – so they can assess whether proposed development sites are in areas with strong access to public transport, walking, and cycling routes.
- Local transport authorities – to help them plan infrastructure that supports sustainable growth and better connects communities.
- Created environment professionals – including spatial and transport planners, consultants, and developers- need consistent, data-driven ways to evaluate and improve site connectivity.
- Policy makers – to inform more effective, sustainable decisions around housing, land use, and infrastructure investment.
- (Eventually) Other public sector users – like NHS transport planners, universities, and research bodies- for broader applications.
This tool hasn’t been designed just to help new builds. It can analyse existing developments, assess how well-connected current communities are, and model what improvements could do to boost access and sustainability.
From planning for healthcare access to identifying underserved areas or modelling rail interventions, the potential is enormous.
Accessibility & UX (User experience) Innovation
We’ve gone to great lengths to meet government accessibility standards — no small feat for a complex map-based tool. During the user interface (UI) design phase, we adapted what existed in the Government Design System (GDS) and created some new components from outside of the GDS. We prioritised inclusive design, bringing in users with specific accessibility needs to test functionality.
What’s Next?
The tool will be free to use and will be launched to all local transport and planning authorities in England and Wales later this year with the objective of fully embedding the tool in national planning policy and guidance. It could also expand to Scotland and Northern Ireland.
This tool empowers local plan-makers and decision-takers to put development where it belongs, in places that benefit people and the planet.
It’s a bold step toward fixing one of the UK’s most persistent planning problems. It proves that with the right data, the right design, and a clear goal, we can build smarter, and greener, for the future.
If you have a question for Ana or the Triad team, please get in touch.
