Colin buchanan

Colin Buchanan has been retained by the London Borough of Sutton to develop business travel networks in Kimpton and Wallington following the successful launch of similar schemes in Sutton and Cheam last year.

The purpose of the business travel networks are to improve access for staff and customers accessing local centres and promote the health benefits of active travel. The scheme links into the wider aspirations of TfL to reduce congestion and pollution in outer London.

The aim of the project is for CB to develop an area travel plan for around 90 local businesses to sign up to and promote sustainable travel measures to employees. In addition, CB will also try to sign up individual business to the TfL Enterprise scheme. Created especially for London's small and medium-sized businesses, Enterprise helps improve an organisation's efficiency and productivity by giving staff more travel options.

Over the next few months, CB will undertake consultations and travel surveys with local businesses to identify and prioritise specific local transport issues. These will feed into an area action plan to make improvements and encourage modal shift away from the car.

The establishment of business travel networks are normally funded through contributions from local businesses. However, this service is funded by Transport for London as part of the Smarter Travel Sutton programme.