Appendix D - PTFCC Engagement Plan
Perth and Kinross Council · 27 May 2026
Back to Climate Change and Sustainability Committee — 27 May 2026 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Perth Transport Futures City Centre Engagement Plan What is Perth Transport Futures City Centre Plan? Perth Transport Futures is a major infrastructure upgrade programme to improve the road network around Perth City. It is being delivered in four phases and includes the construction of the Destiny Bridge and Kingsway (Cross Tay Link Road). The final phase is a package of city centre improvements to improve the public realm and access for sustainable modes of transport. Perth Transport Futures City Centre Plan is being developed to determine the optimal way to reallocate space to achieve this, maintaining traffic flow around the city centre and access by car, while discouraging people from using it as a through route. To date, a conceptual plan has been developed showing that the proposals are broadly feasible. Engagement is now required to refine it, add in detail and create a deliverable proposal that meets our policy objectives and the needs of residents, businesses, and visitors. Why are we developing Perth Transport Futures City Centre Plan? Perth Transport Futures is a major infrastructure upgrade programme to improve the road network around the city, which aims to address the long-term transportation needs of the area, promote economic growth and reduce congestion and pollution within the city centre, in order to make it a more attractive and welcoming environment. The expected reduction in city centre traffic following the opening of the Cross Tay Link Road in March 2025 created the opportunity to reallocate road space to make city centre improvements (e.g. widening pavements and increasing greenery) without significant negative traffic impacts. However, city centre traffic reductions will not last indefinitely. This is because in areas of high travel demand, traffic volumes usually increase over time to fill available road space. Hence there is a degree of urgency to begin implementing the Perth Transport Futures City Centre Plan before traffic volumes and congestion return, that may be difficult to reverse. The plan will be developed to address existing problems in the city centre including: • Air pollution (clear evidence) • Congestion • Harm caused by road traffic collisions • Poor quality pedestrian environment, including poor access for people with disabilities • Lack of a safe cycle network Appendix D
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• Car dominated streets, making the city centre less pleasant to move around and spend time in • Lack of transport choice The plan will allow creation of a more inclusive, people-friendly city centre that supports a more thriving economy and community life. This will also help us address climate change and meet our net-zero targets. Key principles • Reduce traffic passing through the city centre • Maintain access to residences, businesses and car parking by car • Reallocate road space to sustainable transport modes (walking, wheeling, cycling & buses) • No net detriment to accessible parking spaces • Enhance the public realm • Embed climate resilience and help tackle the nature emergency through measures such as sustainable drainage and planting Intended outcomes for the city centre • A more attractive place to live and visit • Improved traffic flow around the city centre and through key junctions • Improved bus journey times and reliability • Reduced traffic-related casualties • Improved accessibility • Creation of a safe network of cycle routes • Improved air quality Purpose of planned engagement • Inform people what Perth Transport Futures City Centre Plan is and why it is being proposed • Consult on the level of support for: o key principles underpinning the Circulation Plan o trade-offs that will be required to implement it • Define operational requirements of stakeholders • Co-ordinate delivery requirements across a range of Council Departments
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The engagement plan will be developed in line with best practice outlined in the National Standards for Community Engagement. Who are the audiences? • Perth City residents • Perth City visitors (PKC residents who work in or visit the city centre, tourists from outside PKC) • Businesses (engage via existing channels via Economic Development) • Other stakeholders (e.g. bus operators, taxi association, Centre for Inclusive Living, cycling groups, Live Active Group, NFU, freight operators) Potential engagement methods • pre-release with Ward / All Members to refine the engagement plan • Online survey • Market research to fill gaps in online survey respondent profile and ensure survey is representative of the PKC population • Focus groups of seldom heard and underrepresented groups (e.g. young people) • Stakeholder workshops Timelines o 12 months of engagement o First 6 months engagement on key principles and trade-offs, stakeholder requirements o Second 6 months likely look at more detailed examples such as concept design for South St. Potentially looking towards Perth Bridges maintenance and the trial PTF city centre measures Potential Survey questions The following questions are based on engagement on a similar project by City of Edinburgh Council Personal details • personal details (age, gender, home postcode, disability) • methods of travel used Principles & trade-offs
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• To what extent do you agree or disagree with reducing traffic passing through the city centre (within the inner ring road) so that we can deliver a friendlier environment for people living and spending time in, shopping, working and visiting Perth? • Which streets should be prioritised for reducing through traffic? [map-based, drop up to 3 pins on the streets of their choice] • To what extent do you agree or disagree with making junctions and crossings easier and safer to walk or wheel across, even where this may result in impacts to other ways of travelling? • To what extent do you agree or disagree with taking action to protect vulnerable road users at major junctions which may impact motorised traffic? • To what extent do you agree or disagree with creating a cycle network in the city centre with routes separated from both traffic and pedestrians, so that people can safely access the city centre by cycle? • To what extent do you agree or disagree with reducing kerbside parking within the city centre and using the space to improve the public realm, such as providing more greenery and seating, while still providing essential access for deliveries and people with mobility difficulties? • To what extent do you agree or disagree with reducing kerbside parking to provide more space for everyone to walk, wheel, cycle and move around the city centre on public transport? • To what extent do you agree with implementing bus priority or cycle lanes on key corridors if it makes journey times longer for car drivers? • To what extent do you agree or disagree with taking action to improve women’s safety through improving lighting and creating safe cycle routes? Background / key findings from relevant recent consultations to inform engagement Big Place Conversation Key points about Perth City from residents of Perth City wards (374 responses) plus findings from engagement with specific demographics / protected groups across PKC: • Accessibility to city centre a concern for people living outwith the centre • Lack of segregated cycle routes on main roads, particularly highlighted by women • Concerns on pavement quality – particularly elderly/disabled (uneven surface, missing dropped kerbs, pedestrian priority crossings and street clutter) • Access to city by public transport from surrounding neighbourhoods is a concern • Insufficient evening and weekend services, reduces viability of city centre businesses • Frustration that some rail/bus interchange requires walk to Mill St • Some perceptions parking is insufficient and not affordable
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• Concern over neglect of important streets and buildings • Concern about overall attractiveness of city • More biodiversity within open spaces (particularly from young people) and more nature on streets is sought • Make more of River Tay and better walkways generally • Improve Lade path • Significant concerns at night and anti-social behaviour • Better lighting and more CCTV needed is some areas • Drainage and flood protection sought Key points on engagement methods • PKC equalities unit are great and make effort to listen & take action • Children and young people suggest o Improved use of social media o Shorter surveys • They are concerned about lack of engagement with them, ‘it will be our future’ • Older people cite they communicate with Community Councils but have difficulty communicating with the Council • People identifying as LGBTI often don’t feel listened to or feel ignored, but the Council equalities team is great • People from Ethnic Minorities do not feel they have influence beyond their group City Development and Design Framework (542 responses) The City Development and Design Framework consulted on level of support for a range of potential city centre projects, including place-based improvements. Ten statements asked about proposals that include increasing greenery without obvious trade-offs in terms of reducing space for traffic and car parking. For all 10, most people either agreed or strongly agreed with the statement. Four statements asked about proposals that seek to increase greenery in the city centre with obvious trade-offs in terms of reducing space for traffic and car parking. For three of these proposals, most people did not agree/strongly with the statement. Least agreement when replacing a car park with greenspace: • Scott St car park, new green space with trees and planting = 34% • Station car park to greenspace & public realm = 25% Part pedestrianisation
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• Green corridor and part pedestrianisation of route towards city mills/culture quarter = 49% Parking and street space to greenspace • Turn some parking areas and streets [on route between station & city centre] into usable green spaces = 53% Perth Walking and Cycling Index 2025 (representative residents survey of the greater Perth area) • 65% of people support building more cycle paths physically separated from traffic and pedestrians, even when this would mean less room for other road traffic • 64% support reducing speed limits on local roads in built up areas to 20 mph speed limits • 76% support improving walking, wheeling and cycling access to bus stops and coach or rail stations • Strong support (>71%) for changes that would help people to walk more, including wider pavements, more crossing points with reduced wait times and nicer places to stop and rest, e.g. more benches, trees and shelters. • Percentage of residents who would like to use different types of transport more in the future o Walk / wheel 44% o Cycle 45% o Take public transport 34% o Drive 13% • 25% of residents would like to drive less in the future