Travel plan update & car parking review for the Royal Marsden

The Royal Marsden Trust operate two specialist cancer care hospitals in Sutton and Chelsea. Due to the contrasting locations of both hospitals each site has specific opportunities and challenges for transport.

Steer has supported travel planning for the Royal Marsden since 2007. However, in light of recent and planned development works, predominantly at the Sutton site, an in-depth study of car parking was required in addition to the programmed refresh of the travel plan targets. 

Our project team met with the Royal Marsden to discuss the specific challenges at each site and how development was affecting travel demand and parking now and how this would likely change in future.

To monitor and refresh travel plan targets and actions, two iTrace compliant surveys were designed and implemented across both sites to establish a snapshot of travel for staff, patients and visitors.

Our review of car parking at Sutton began with a detailed data collection phase which monitored the utilisation of staff and visitor car parks. A full review of staff parking permit fees and criteria was undertaken, followed by GIS analysis to provide a robust evidence base for any recommendations.  Analysis included testing a series of suggested scenarios for new permit criteria based on distance to work, need for permits, journey times and alternative travel options.

Monitoring of the travel plan and updates to targets and action planning was completed as part of the programmed refresh, bringing the document in line with new Mayoral objectives for London. In total 650 members of staff and 550 patients and visitors responded to the survey.

A series of parking permit criteria were recommended to manage car parking demand at the Sutton site, which could be supported by the travel plan once implemented. To complement the permit recommendations, a review of technologies which could be implemented to improve monitoring, charging and access to car-parking was also undertaken.