Medway Council is taking a proactive step to improve everyday journeys for its workforce by developing a workplace Travel Plan for Gun Wharf, the council’s main administrative building.

Leading by Example with a Workplace Travel Plan

Using the Modeshift STARS Business platform, the council is creating a clear roadmap to support staff in choosing healthier and more active ways to travel to and from work.

Importantly, Medway is also demonstrating how Modeshift licence holders can make the most of the STARS Business site included as part of their membership. Using the platform to lead by example and embed travel planning within their own organisation.

Building a Travel Plan for the Future

Gun Wharf, which accommodates around 2,000 staff, is scheduled for a major refurbishment following the discovery of Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) in the building. After the RAAC was identified, the offices were closed, and funding was secured to carry out essential remedial works to ensure the building and staff’s safety. The site partially reopened while these works progressed. The project team allocated the remaining budget to additional refurbishment work across the building.

Levels 3, 4, and 5, where most staff are based, will be temporarily closed while the refurbishment is undertaken and are not expected to reopen until 2027.

During the wider refurbishment programme, Medway Council considered the site’s future use. This has led to the development of plans to transform Gun Wharf into a central hub for council staff, featuring improved facilities and infrastructure designed to support and encourage more active everyday journeys.

The refurbishment includes:

Secure cycle storage
Showers and changing facilities
A review of parking provision
Improved facilities to support walking, wheeling and cycling

Alongside these upgrades, the workplace Travel Plan will help staff understand and make the most of the new facilities when they return.

Making the most of the STARS Business Site

Medway Council already uses Modeshift STARS Education to support Travel Plans in local schools. As a Modeshift licence holder, the council also has access to a STARS Business site included within their membership.

Recognising the opportunity, the team decided to use the platform to develop a Travel Plan for their own workplace.

Kathleen Clynshaw, Transport Initiative Coordinator at Medway Council, explains:

‘We were already familiar with the STARS platform through our work with schools, so it made sense to use the Business version for our own council building. It’s a great opportunity for us to lead by example and also helped us understand the system from a site perspective.’

Although designed for workplaces, the STARS Business platform follows the same clear structure as the education version, helping organisations set goals, monitor progress and deliver practical actions to improve everyday journeys.

Understanding staff travel

A key part of the Travel Plan process has been gathering insights into how staff currently travel to work and what barriers they face.

A staff travel survey provided valuable data, helping the team understand what might encourage more people to walk, wheel, cycle or use public transport.

This information is now shaping the actions within the Travel Plan.

The site audit process also proved particularly useful.

Kathleen says:

‘The survey gave us great data about the challenges staff face when travelling to work. The site audit helped us understand what was already there and what improvements were needed. As the building is updated, it will be really useful to review the site each year and see how the new facilities are working.’

Strong support across the council

Medway Council’s Active Travel Group, which includes senior officers and elected members, has strongly supported the Travel Plan and discussed its development.

This support will help ensure the Travel Plan becomes embedded across the organisation as staff begin returning to the refurbished building.

Senior Transport Planner Darren Taylor explains:

‘Travel planning has always been part of our thinking. Developing a Travel Plan for Gun Wharf ensures that when staff return to the building, we’re ready with the facilities and initiatives needed to support more active everyday journeys.’

A recommendation for other local authorities

Medway Council believes other local authorities could benefit from making better use of the STARS Business site available through their Modeshift licence.

Kathleen adds:

‘As part of your Modeshift membership you receive access to a STARS Business site, so it’s well worth using it. Developing our own Travel Plan has helped us understand the platform better and means we can support schools and other organisations more effectively too.’

Looking ahead

As refurbishment work continues at Gun Wharf, the Travel Plan will play an important role in supporting staff to adopt healthier and more active everyday journeys.

By combining improved facilities with a clear plan of engagement and promotion, Medway Council is ensuring the return to Gun Wharf supports travel choices that benefit staff, the workplace and the wider community.