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12. Spotlight: The transport challenge of London’s future growth
12. Spotlight: The transport challenge of London’s
future growth
12.1 Introduction and contents
London’s expected rapid growth is currently a major preoccupation for future
transport planning. Population and employment growth signifies an economically
successful city, and it is a key role of transport to facilitate this. However, it is also
crucial to ensure that this is done in the most effective and efficient way – not
simply planning to accommodate the projected increases in travel demand, but in
developing plans to ensure, for example, that the need to travel is minimised,
alongside the negative externalities of travel such as carbon dioxide emissions.
Furthermore, the changing composition and characteristics of London’s future
population will lead to shifts in the nature of travel demand – whether in terms of
modes used, times of day, location or accessibility needs. These are important
dimensions that need to be properly understood if appropriate future plans are to
be developed.
This chapter looks at the transport challenge presented by London’s future growth
and related population and employment change; firstly reviewing the latest
population and employment projections from the GLA and describing their
implications, and secondly by describing the latest travel demand forecasts
developed by TfL. These forecasts will underpin the development of a future MTS,
as well as a range of specific contemporary and future transport schemes in the
Capital.
Figure 12.1
An illustration of the magnitude of London’s projected population growth.
Source: TfL Marketing and Communications.
Travel in London, Report 8 255