Abstract
Transport policies and interventions have wide ranging impacts for society, many of which are poorly accounted for through existing transport appraisal frameworks. This article outlines the importance of social and distributional impact assessments in transport planning and policy, as a way of ensuring equitable outcomes. We explain the importance of considering social, equity and distributional impacts in transport policy and provide an overview of approaches to social impact assessment. A case study of the equality impact assessment processes used by Highways England is then presented. We conclude by considering some of the challenges of social impact assessments in transport planning and policy, including: limitation of existing assessment frameworks; evidence, evaluation and monitoring; spatial and temporal coverage; and engagement and expertise. Shifting paradigms in transport policy mean that appraisal frameworks need to adapt so that transport interventions and policies can promote sustainable, healthy and equitable communities. Social and distributional impact assessments have an important role to play in ensuring that transport policies can have positive social outcomes across the population.