Multi-billion pound value of region's buses highlighted in new report

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Bus services within the Heartland region generate billions of pounds in economic benefits and deliver more than a four-fold return on public investment, according to new research by England's Economic Heartland

The report, developed in partnership with KPMG, provides the most comprehensive analysis to date of the economic, social, and environmental value of bus services across the region, and within each local authority area.

The research found that, across EEH, there is:

• £2.6 billion in annual spending by bus passengers in local economies, supporting high     streets, shops, and leisure venues.
• £580 million in direct, indirect, and induced economic activity from the bus industry.
• £951 million in wider social and environmental benefits, including improved health     outcomes, reduced congestion, and cleaner air.
• Every £1 of public money spent on improving bus services in the region generates as much as £4.55in wider economic benefits.

There are over 360,000 daily bus journeys across the Heartland,which spans from Swindon and Oxfordshire across to Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire. With the region’s ‘polycentric’ geography– where no single urban centre dominates—the report underscores the importance of a well-connected, integrated bus system to ensure inclusive growth and access for all.

Chair of England’s Economic Heartland, Cllr Liz Leffman, said: “We all instinctively understand the immense value buses bring to our society and economy. They are the arteries of our communities—linking people to employment,education, healthcare, and leisure, while driving local economies and fostering social inclusion.

“Thanks to the detailed analysis in this report, we can now quantify that value—both at the regional level and within each local authority—providing a powerful evidence base to guide future investment and policy.”

As sub-national transport body, England’s Economic Heartland has earned a strong reputation for its work on bus. This includes:

• Progressing our ‘Heartbeat bus network’, which identifies the strategic bus routes which, if improved, could transform journeys across the region.
• Exploring the possibility of widening the benefits of the Luton-Dunstable busway and improving bus access to the expanding London Luton Airport  
• Supporting partners who choose to franchise or to strengthen their enhanced partnership model.  
• Advocating for mass rapid transit proposals in areas such as Hertfordshire and Milton Keynes
• Working to attract private investment in mobility hubs  
• Understanding opportunities for ‘total transport’ and ‘demand responsive transport

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