East West Main Line Partnership elects new Chair
Cllr Katie Thornburrow has been elected the new Chair of the East West Main Line Partnership at its annual general meeting in Milton Keynes on Thursday (17 October)
The Cambridge City Council Executive Councillor for Planning, Building Control and Infrastructure, succeeds Cllr Steven Broadbent, of Buckinghamshire Council, who had served his full three-year term in the role.
The partnership, for which England's Economic Heartland provides the secretariat, brings together local …
EEH Bus Symposium 2024
- Our Delivering Better Buses report produced alongside the 2024 Bus Symposium provides updates on our work on bus and potential next steps
- Read our response to the government's consultation on franchising
England's Economic Heartland hosted its second Bus Symposium in Northampton on 10 October.
Delegates and speakers included local leaders and officers, operators, innovators and industry experts. Local transport minister Simon Lightwood recorded a video address for symposium (see below), …
Brochures highlight key interventions and economic rationale
- For more information, see our Connecting Economies page
The strategic transport interventions which would help realise the region’s immense economic potential are showcased in a series of brochures published by England’s Economic Heartland.
The Connecting Economies documents provide an accessible compendium of both evidence and asks to government, which England’s Economic Heartland, its local and combined authority partners, MPs, private sector and others can use to make the case for …
MPs urge government commitment to Ely as EEH publishes updated Keeping Trade on Track document
Improvements to Ely and Haughley rail junctions are key to unlocking economic growth across the country, supporting net zero, and providing better passenger services.
That’s the message from MPs and peers on the East of England All-Party Parliamentary Group, which reformed last week following the General Election.
The upgrades would unlock thousands of extra freight trains from Britain’s busiest container port at Felixstowe to serve distribution centres in the Midlands, …
Interventions identified in latest two connectivity studies
Potential interventions to improve the transport system along two key corridors in the region are identified in England’s Economic Heartland’s two latest connectivity studies.
The Thames Valley-Northampton and Southern East-West Movements (Buckinghamshire across to Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire) were produced after extensive stakeholder engagement. They have been developed in line with DfT transport appraisal guidance and provide clarity on investment opportunities which EEH and its local authority partners can now seek …
Spending Review submission highlights importance of East West Rail, Ely and bus to the region
England's Economic Heartland used the recent Spending Review call for evidence to ensure key messages about our Board’s priorities for investment were submitted directly to Treasury.
Building on recent Board discussions, EEH’s submission set out the huge economic potential of the region that can only be achieved if our infrastructure and connectivity priorities are realised, including delivering of East West Rail (in full), Ely Junction and investing in improved bus …
Buses Bill - EEH statement
EEH statement in response to the Buses Bill being laid in Parliament today:
Cllr Liz Leffman, Chair of England’s Economic Heartland, said: “We welcome the importance the new government is placing on improving bus journeys and potentially giving more powers to local authorities. This includes opening up opportunities to franchise, and we’ve already seen exciting proposals put forward for consultation by our partners at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
“In …
New support for firms with green solutions to regional transport challenges
From electric taxis to bin lorries, a new accelerator will offer bespoke business support to SMEs with ideas to make transport greener.
England's Economic Heartland has partnered with Connected Places Catapult, the UK’s innovation accelerator for cities, transport, and place leadership, to support the Local Authority Transport Decarbonisation Accelerator.
The Catapult collaborated with England's Economic Heartland and two local authorities to seek solutions that can help progress towards net zero …
Defra Minister Daniel Zeichner MP opens East of England’s third Net Zero and Climate Resilience Summit
Over 250 people attended the summit at Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge where speakers and workshops focused on the actions needed to achieve net zero and climate resilience for the East of England.
The Summit was opened by Daniel Zeichner MP, Defra Minister of State for the Environment.
Mr Zeichner, in his opening address, set out the essential need for adaptation to a changing climate. A commitment to farming and …
EEH welcomes new ministerial team
Cllr Liz Leffman Chair of England's Economic Heartland, has welcomed the new ministerial team at the Department for Transport.
She said: "On behalf of England’s Economic Heartland, I would like to congratulate the new Secretary of State for Transport and her ministerial team on their appointments."The incoming government has made growing the economy the bedrock of its approach. Our region, with its world class science, technology and creative sectors, …
