active, healthy, inclusive places for everyone
ActivePlanning is a values-led planning and transport planning consultancy. We are established to deliver healthy, inclusive, active places through policy, strategy and design. Such places will also enable sustainable, zero carbon lifestyles.
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How can we meet your needs?
ActivePlanning is associated with Hegsons Design Consultancy Limited (Hegsons). Together and independently we offer policy, strategy, concept and detailed engineering design, transport assessments, mobility management planning (travel plans) and transport masterplanning in the UK and Ireland.
Please contact richardl@activeplanning.co.uk or richard@hegsons.com with your requirements and he will set up a Teams or Zoom meeting.
ActivePlanning services are listed below. For Hegsons services, please visit www.hegsons.com.
Strategy
ActivePlanning offers design-led Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans. This means we study all proposed routes to be sure they are deliverable rather than putting lines on a map which become ‘policy’ regardless of whether or not schemes would be feasible.
Furthermore, we investigate a finer grain of local routes, area-based traffic calming schemes and small community links schemes that can be delivered quickly to maximise accessibility benefits to the community, enabling very local trips. Our proposals align with LTN1/20 and Inclusive Environments but we can also include accessibility audits.
Local cycling and walking infrastructure plans.
Route studies - walking and cycling
ActivePlanning works with engineering partners to offer comprehensive route studies which look at (a) the general feasibility of introducing pedestrian and cycle routes on selected corridors and (b) site specific designs for key locations including junctions, typical design detailing on links, and new crossings.
We are happy to attend site visits with the client and key stakeholders to identify local issues and then, if necessary, to re-visit to take further photos and give consideration to any new route options to be taken forward. Our work is iterative.
Route study reports are designed to be used to attract funding. We prepare visually-appealing desktop published documents and can bring additional expertise to verify routes through sensitive areas (RAMSAR, SPA, SAC, SSSI).
Masterplanning
Masterplans - early stages
ActivePlanning works with master developers, urban designers, developers, planners, engineers and architects at the visioneering / brainstorming and other early masterplan stages to establish the masterplan vision, design principles, active and sustainable transport networks. We are advised by Hegsons Design Consultancy Limited.
Our sustainability-led approach has helped lead consultants deliver multi-award winning masterplans and compete in national architectural competitions.
We want to create healthy places that naturally (without saying so) promote a better quality of life, greater travel independence for children, and inclusion of people who find themselves unable to own or drive a car for many reasons - or simply choose a car-free lifestyle as a positive facet of how they want to live their lives.
Transport Assessments, travel plans, mobility management plans
Led by Hegsons, ActivePlanning prepares or contributes to transport assessments, travel plans and mobility management plans.
Design
Design is at the heart of ActivePlanning’s approach to projects.
Richard Lewis is a lifelong cyclist with a career working in transport planning departments and extensive knowledge gained from studying design guidance and schemes in London, Paris, Copenhagen and the Netherlands.
He has a strong working knowledge of cycle infrastructure design from a “user perspective” and understands the pitfalls including greater conflicts at junctions, the interaction between pedestrians and cyclists. He is capable of designing concept schemes and is extensively and effectively engaged in design discussions. As well as learning, he regularly provides detailed design advice which is taken on board by engineers.
His design knowledge has been effective in his roles as a design reviewer, helping win major funding (a total of £36.5m for two authorities) and transforming the funding landscape for others (Luton Borough Council and the Isles of Scilly).
For more technical design, Richard works alongside colleagues including Hegsons Design Consultancy Limited and one of the UK’s leading active travel highway engineers.
Projects completed
Totton Town Council LCWIP (2025)
Council of the Isles of Scilly LCWIP (2023)
Buckden Parish Council (2019) - resulting in local scheme delivery funding.
Department for Transport pilot and ‘independent’ LCWIP support programme 2020-2022 - provided support for emerging new LCWIPs.
Kettering, Wellingborough and Corby LCWIPs (2022) led by WSP.
Hart District Council Route 150 cycle route study with City Infinity (2025)
New Forest National Park Authority with City Infinity, led by Hegsons Design Consultancy Ltd: Route 120 cycle route study.
Member of design quality review panels in Harlow, Epping and West Somerset managed by Frame Projects. Influenced the provision of active travel infrastructure within various masterplan sites, including making active and sustainable travel easier and more convenient than driving. Significant influence over the design of the emerging Latton Priory Masterplan.
Design inputs to support City Infinity on cycle route studies 120 (New Forest) and 150 (Hart).
UK Atomic Energy Authority (2024). Concept design for cycleway through new entrance gateway. Internal stakeholder engagement. Ongoing technical work being undertaken by project lead Hegsons Design Consultancy Ltd.
Luton Borough Council (2023). Design support for cycle routes in Leagrave and Bedford Road. This involved coaching the framework contractor and supporting the client. Achieved restoration of Active Travel Capability Funding after it had been cancelled due to a non-consistent outline design being prepared.
Knutsford Town Council 2023. “Dog Wood” cycling and walking path. Concept scheme design, stakeholder engagement and report. Led by Hegsons Design Consultancy Ltd.
SOG Limited (2022) Heath Park Masterplan (400 dwellings and mixed light industrial uses), strategic transport advice with emphasis on sustainable modes and local services. Led by EcoResponsive Environments - multi-award winning.
Active travel route design serving 5,000 home development on the edge of Kettering. Hanwood Park Ltd.
County Westmeath, Ireland: Ardee, Mullingar, Athlone. Central area masterplans incorporating active travel infrastructure, including concept designs. Led by Turley. Sub-contracted to Hegsons Design Consultancy Ltd.
Mobility Management Plans - Ireland. Various, led by Hegsons Design Consultancy Limited and resulting in planning approvals.
