A new tool from the Department for Transport shows how well different places are connected to health services, education, shopping, leisure and workplaces.

It is hoped that as a result, transport projects will be better connected to jobs, shops, schools and healthcare.

The web-based tool will help built environment professionals and planners in England and Wales give schemes a ‘connectivity score’ and better map them to essential services. This will help them to places schemes in areas that are better connected and easily accessible by walking, cycling and public transport.

The tool combines transport and land‑use data in an innovative way to generate the first nationally agreed connectivity score for every location.

The tool will be used to help ensure new homes, jobs and services are located where they can be accessed by sustainable modes of transport. It will help local authorities, developers and planners in making better decisions about where development should happen and plan for the infrastructure needed to support it.

The tool will also help to reconnect underserved communities, offering improved access to opportunities.

Lilian Greenwood, minister for Local Transport, said: "Transport is central to unlocking growth. The Connectivity Tool gives planners and professionals the evidence they need to make better decisions about where development should happen, ensuring communities are well connected to jobs and services.

"By making the tool widely available, we are setting a new national standard for measuring connectivity and supporting sustainable growth across England and Wales."