Highways (e.g resurfacing)

South East Submits Bid for Transport Devolution to Boost Economic Recovery

  • Transport for the South East submits bid to government to become a statutory body with devolved powers over key transport issues
  • Proposal is backed by a coalition of public and private sector organisations including councils, business groups, transport operators, passenger groups and more
  • Investment in green transport will boost economic recovery, create new jobs, improve quality of life and support a sustainable future

A GROUND-BREAKING bid for transport devolution in the South East of England has been submitted to Government by a partnership of the region’s local authorities and business leaders.

The proposal from Transport for the South East is designed to power-up the region’s economic recovery from the effects of Covid-19 and accelerate investment in sustainable transport as part of a thirty-year transport strategy. If agreed by the Transport Secretary and approved by Parliament, Transport for the South East would become a statutory sub-national transport body with direct influence over Government decision-making on transport issues and the powers needed to deliver major improvements to the South East’s transport network. The bid has the backing of the South East’s local authorities and local economic partnerships (LEPs), representing more than 7.5m people and 300,000 businesses. Chambers of commerce, transport operators, ports, airports, protected landscapes and universities in the South East have also given their support, as have national organisations including the Confederation of British Industry and passenger watchdog Transport Focus.

Councillor Tony Page, Vice Chair of Transport for the South East and Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport at Reading Borough Council, said:

“As a key economic player in the south east region, boasting a vast commuter catchment area and a major centre for shopping, health, education and leisure, Reading fully supports this bid to Government. We welcome the TfSE transport strategy which will help deliver major transport projects in the south-east, including continuing support from TfSE to develop the powerful case for a Third Thames Bridge, east of Reading.

“The Council is now close to finalising its new Local Transport Plan which sets the strategy for 2036 for a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable town. It includes schemes to tackle poor air quality and congestion to help us achieve our net zero carbon target in less than a decade. Reading’s plan has been developed alongside the TfSE’s own Transport Strategy. “The formation of TfSE as a statutory body brings with it significant benefits, not least enabling the South East region to speak with a united voice on key issues and being better represented at national level. It would help deliver a more co-ordinated long-term approach to transport strategy across the South East region, as well as the structure and support to assist local authorities in delivering major schemes as part of a wider integrated strategic vision.”

Cllr Keith Glazier, Chair of Transport for the South East, said:

“The South East is a true powerhouse for the UK economy, contributing more than any other region outside London. It’s the country’s principal international gateway for people and goods and drives productivity and prosperity across the UK. “Our transport strategy sets out how investment in a more sustainable transport network will help our economy recover and grow, delivering a green transport revolution that will create jobs, boost quality of life and help cut carbon emissions to net-zero. “Transport for the South East has quickly emerged as a powerful and effective partnership for our region, but delivering on our ambitions will require more than just partnership working. That’s why we want to formalise our role as the South East’s voice for strategic transport by becoming a statutory body. “Statutory status will mean we can work with government to decide how and where money is spent on our region’s transport network and give us the powers we need to accelerate schemes and projects which are better for people, better for business and better for the planet.” Transport for the South East was formed in 2017 and brings together 16 local transport authorities and five local economic partnerships along with other partners including Network Rail and Highways England to speak with one voice on the region’s transport investment priorities. The powers and responsibilities Transport for the South East is seeking would allow the partnership to:
  • Develop and implement a Strategic Investment Plan for the region
  • Act as ‘one voice’ for the South East in agreeing investment priorities with the Secretary of State for Transport
  • Become a statutory partner in road and rail investment decisions
  • Improve bus services for passengers and provide improved alternatives to car travel
  • Coordinate the delivery of region-wide integrated smart ticketing
  • Implement road charging schemes linked to Clean Air Zones to improve quality of life for people in the South East
The devolved powers are designed to support the delivery of Transport for the South East’s thirty-year transport strategy (https://transportforthesoutheast.org.uk/transport-strategy) which sets out how investment in sustainable transport can deliver a significant shift to public transport from private vehicles, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and tackle poor air quality in the region’s towns and cities, better connect its ports and airports, improve transport links for deprived communities and make planning and paying for travel simpler and easier for everyone. The strategy was approved by Transport for the South East’s partnership board following public consultation. It will be used to inform a series of area studies which will determine packages of investment to improve north-south and east-west travel in the South East. Taken together, these investment packages will form a regional strategic investment plan which Transport for the South East plans to publish in 2022. You can read Transport for the South East's proposal to government for statutory status at https://transportforthesoutheast.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TfSE-Proposal-to-Government-for-Statutory-Status-FINAL-July-2020.pdf

Notes to editor:

The ability to create sub-national transport bodies (STBs) to plan and prioritise long-term infrastructure investment in a specific region was created by Parliament with an amendment to the Local Transport Act 2008 which was passed in January 2016. Formal consent from an STB’s constituent authorities is a legislative requirement for statutory status. Transport for the South East’s 16 constituent authorities – listed below - have all provided their formal consent for the submission: Bracknell Forest Council Brighton & Hove City Council East Sussex County Council Hampshire County Council Isle of Wight Council Kent County Council Medway Council Portsmouth City Council Reading Borough Council Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Slough Borough Council Southampton City Council Surrey County Council West Sussex County Council West Berkshire Council Wokingham Borough Council In addition, letters of support for Transport for the South East’s proposal have been received from the following groups and organisations: Aecom Atkins Berkshire Local Transport Body Borough and district authorities x46 Coast to Capital LEP Confederation of British Industry Confederation of Passenger Transport Enterprise M3 LEP Eurovia Gatwick Airport Go South Coast Hampshire Chamber of Commerce Heathrow Airport HelloDone Institute of Civil Engineers