CEG is committed to creating an environmentally-friendly and sustainable development at The Forge. A key aspect of this will be the impact that the development has on the travel patterns of new residents, employees and visitors to Kirkstall Forge. The overall aim is to encourage walking, cycling and the use of public transport and to reduce the need to travel by car.

In formulating the Masterplan, careful thought has been given to creating a layout which is legible, with spaces and uses connected by cycleways and footpaths. The layout also allows for the entry and exit of bus services which bus operators have already agreed to provide throughout the site. As part of the planning application, Commercial Estates Group has committed £4m for a new railway station on site to connect Kirkstall Forge to Leeds City Centre and the Yorkshire Dales. The proposed development mix has also been devised to ensure that uses complementary to the main employment and residential uses are available on-site, thus avoiding unnecessary car trips to destinations further afield.

In tandem with the physical features incorporated within the layout, a Travel Plan is being developed which will set down a range of measures and practices to further minimise car usage. These measures may include the allocation of free bus passes to residents, and the setting up of a car share club.

It is also the aim that in time the “Getting Around” section will develop into an increasingly interactive facility which will provide further incentives for residents and employees to avoid getting into their cars. Current consideration is being given to the provision of on-site refrigeration facilities to enable online supermarket deliveries to be stored until residents get home from work.