The Department for Transport (DfT) has said housing developers should take control of residential travel plans, reducing car-parking bays provided and aim to reduce car use by design.

Designers should provide a holistic package in which individual measures are integrated into the design, marketing and occupation of the site rather than 'retrofitted' once the development is established. The measures should aim to achieve more sustainable travel patterns from the outset, rather than cutting car use incrementally once the residents are in occupation.

The guidance comes in a guidance document produced by the DfT and based on a review of eight schemes around the country.

Local authority officers and members should not be afraid of being seen as "anti-car", but recognise that travel plans aim to improve accessibility for all residents, it recommends.

"A degree of parking restraint is likely to be critical to the success of the plan in reducing car use," the document advises. Developers should restrict car movements within the site, apply parking restraint or even consider the potential for a car-free site.

In other cases they should minimise intrusion from parking where applicable. Car share schemes, home delivery grocery services and refrigerated drop-off points on site should all be considered says the report.

Management, monitoring and enforcement of the plan should be set out during section 106 negotiations and the developer should be responsible for the travel plan until there is proof that it has been successfully implemented, the document suggests.