Draft Transport Strategy

Welcome to our page on the Draft Transport Strategy, where you can download key documents, have your say and hear directly from the EEH team about the strategy's vision and policies, and the technical work which underpins it.

Have your say on the strategy

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England's Economic Heartland's Draft Transport Strategy sets out a bold new approach to connectivity which will enable the region's transport system to support a green recovery from COVID-19 and sustainable economic growth in the decades which follow, while reaching net zero carbon emissions no later than 2050.

The strategy is now subject to formal consultation which closes at midnight on October 6.

The strategy includes measures to:

Work with the area's world-leading innovators to trial and deploy cleaner and smarter connectivity across the region
Champion investment in better digital connectivity to increase people's ability to work from home, reducing the need to travel
Maximise the potential of East West Rail and use it as the catalyst for transforming public transport across the region
Enhance walking and cycling infrastructure and 'shared transport' to improve local connectivity
Ensure the region's freight and logistics needs continue to be met, while lowering their environmental impact

The strategy includes an investment pipeline of the strategic transport infrastructure required for the region to meet its ambitions. And it contains details of connectivity studies which will be taken forward by EEH working with its partners, through which future investment requirements will be identified. An Integrated Sustainability Appraisal and a number of technical studies which informed the strategy have also been published.

England's Economic Heartland is also seeking views on plans to become a statutory body, increasing its ability to influence the national agenda and deliver the Transport Strategy. The Integrated Sustainability is also subject to consultation.

The launch of the Draft Transport Strategy for consultation follows an extensive period of engagement on our Outline Transport Strategy in 2019. Twelve key messages were identified from the feedback received, most notably the need for EEH to be bold in its approach to decarbonising the transport system.

Guides below:

Guide to the Draft Transport Strategy, technical work and proposals for statutory status

Vision and Principles
The Draft Transport Strategy's vision (page 14) is:
To realise sustainable growth opportunities and improve the quality of life and wellbeing for Heartland residents and businesses, by harnessing the region’s globally renowned centres of innovation to unlock a world class, de-carbonised transport system.
Its key principles are:
• Achieving net-zero carbon emissions from transport no later than 2050
• Improving quality of life and wellbeing through an inclusive transport system accessible to all which emphasises sustainable and active travel
• Supporting the regional economy by connecting people and businesses to markets and opportunities
• Ensuring the Heartland works for the UK by enabling the efficient movement of people and goods through the region and to/from international gateways.
Watch Head of Technical Programme, Naomi Green's short video guide to our vision and principles below:
A Transport System for the Future
The A Transport System for the Future chapter (pages 30 to 37)contains policies to decarbonise the transport system and ensure the region plays a central role in developing mobility for the future.
Watch Programme Director Martin Tugwell's short video guide below:
Transforming Journeys
The Transforming Journeys chapter (pages 38-47), contains policies aimed at maximising the benefits and opportunities arising from investment in strategic infrastructure.
Watch EEH Programme Director Martin Tugwell's short video guide below:
Connecting People with Opportunities
This chapter (page 44-47) has policies around transport-related development, alongside improving local and rural connectivity.
Watch Head of Technical Programme, Naomi Green's short guide to the chapter below:
Making the Heartland Work for the UK
The Making the Heartland Work for the UK chapter (pages 48 to 53) contains policies aimed at connecting businesses to global markets, increasing rail freight and supporting road freight while reducing its environmental impact.
Watch EEH Programme Director Martin Tugwell's short video guide below:
Implementation and Investment
The strategy is the foundation on which EEH will plan the strategic development of the region’s transport system. Ensuring its policies are implemented will be the key to its success and is considered from pages 54 to 65 of the Draft Transport Strategy.
Watch Head of Technical Programme, Naomi Green's short video guide to how the strategy will be implemented, and investment prioritised, below:
Connectivity Studies
Included within the investment pipeline is a programme of connectivity studies across the region, where solutions to improve connectivity will be examined jointly with our partners.
More information on the connectivity studies is available in the June 19 Investment Pipeline report to the Strategic Transport Forum.
Connectivity Studies map.pdf
Watch EEH Project Lead Abi Nichols' short guide to the connectivity studies below:
Have Your Say
We are consulting on the Draft Transport Strategy, Inegrated Sustainability Appraisal and Proposals to Establish a Statutory Sub-national Transport Body.
- Complete the online survey
The consultation closes at midnight on October 6, 2020.
Watch EEH Communications Manager Adam King's short video guide to the consultation below:
Integrated Sustainability Appraisal
An independent Integrated Sustainability Appraisal (ISA) has been undertaken to ensure that sustainability aspects are incorporated into the strategy.
A special microsite has been developed giving more details about the ISA.
The ISA is also subject to consultation. Questions on the ISA are contained with the main Transport Strategy consultation (questions 12-13).
ISA Report.pdf
App A Plan Policies and Programmes.pdf
App B Policy Assessment.pdf
App C Corridor Assessment.pdf
App D Health Impact Assessment - inc deprivation maps.pdf
App E Equality Impact Asessment.pdf
App F Community Safety Assessment.pdf
App G Info to inform habitats regulations screening.pdf
App H Scoping Review Comments Tracker.pdf
App I Policy Review and Sustainability Baseline.pdf
Watch EEH Project Lead Abi Nichols' short guide to the ISA below:
Heartland in Context
The Heartland in Context provides information on the region's people, places, economy, environment and transport system.
- Heartland in Context.pdf
Watch Communications Manager Adam King's short video about the Heartland in Context below:
Pathways to Decarbonisation
This study by Oxford and Southampton universities used advanced modelling to show how EEH could achieve a net zero carbon transport system by 2050.
Pathways to Decarbonisation.pdf
Watch EEH Innovation Manager James Golding-Graham's short guide to Pathways to Decarbonisation below:
First/Last Mile International Best Practice Review
The First/ Last International Best Practice Review is informing how EEH (working with its partners) sustainably improves the beginning or end of an individual journey, particularly to or from a transportation hub or service.
First Last Mile International Best Practice Review.pdf
Watch EEH Head of Technical Programme Naomi Green's short guide to the first/last mile review below:
Passenger Rail Study Phase One
Working with EEH, Network Rail has conducted a baseline assessment and review of the existing rail network and levels of service in the region.
This process has enabled EEH to identify and understand where significant rail connectivity gaps exist, what rail enhancements are in development or delivery and what decarbonised/non decarbonised services there are on the network.
Phase Two will establish the economic benefits of providing better rail connectivity in the future.
Passenger Rail Study Phase One.pdf
Watch Project Lead Antony Swift's short guide to the Passenger Rail Study below:
Freight Study
Published in 2019, the Freight Study provides an assessment of the region's freight requirements and the implications of future demands and trends up to 2050.
- Freight Study executive summary.pdf
- Freight Study.pdf
Watch Project Lead Antony Swift's short guide to the Freight Study below:
Proposal for Statutory Body
Alongside the publication of the Draft Transport Strategy for consultation, England’s Economic Heartland is also seeking views on the proposal to establish the Sub-national Transport Body on a statutory basis.
Proposal to Establish a Statutory Sub national Transport Body.pdf
Watch Programme Director Martin Tugwell's short guide to the proposals below: