Place-based neighbourhood planning approaches to net zero transport

Integrating place-based neighbourhood planning approaches with transport sector strategies is essential for achieving net zero transport. However, systematic research on the role of different neighbourhood types in reducing transport emissions remains limited, constraining the ability of place-based planning practices to inform the development of integrated strategies. This gap partly stems from the lack of a theoretically informed neighbourhood classification framework applicable to practice. This study addresses the gap by proposing a neighbourhood classification framework and testing its validity in evaluating the influence of different neighbourhood types on climate change costs associated with transport emissions. Using the framework, 10,068 SA1 (statistical area level 1) regions within Greater Melbourne were classified into 14 distinct neighbourhood types. Climate change costs were estimated using data from the 2012–2020 Victorian Integrated Survey of Travel and Activity (VISTA). The results show that mobility-oriented development, transit-oriented development, 20-min neighbourhood, and activity centre neighbourhoods are 6, 3, 1.6, and 1.5 times more effective, respectively, in reducing climate change costs compared to sprawl neighbourhoods. Sprawl neighbourhoods in Greater Melbourne account for an estimated $333 million annually in climate change cost linked to transport emissions. By adopting integrated transport and land use planning, these costs could potentially be reduced to $68 million annually. The findings highlight the importance of targeted, neighbourhood-specific interventions in achieving net zero transport.