Landmark plan sets out the transport investment needed in the South East

TfSE has launched a 12-week public consultation on a £45 billion plan that sets out the steps to decarbonise the transport system across the region, level-up left-behind communities and facilitate sustainable economic growth in the South East

Transport for the South East (TfSE) has launched a 12-week public consultation on a £45 billion plan that sets out the steps to decarbonise the transport system across the region, level-up left-behind communities and facilitate sustainable economic growth in the South East.

Over the last five years TfSE has worked with a huge range of partners including local authorities, local enterprise partnerships (LEPs), district and borough authorities, national parks and other protected landscapes and representatives from National Highways, Network Rail and Transport for London. Together they have investigated the issues, challenges and opportunities identified in their transport strategy (2020) in more detail to identify a shortlist of integrated transport interventions that will make life better for people, for businesses and for the environment.

This plan is the culmination of that work. It recognises a need for greater connectivity between our major economic hubs, the international gateways and their markets, a more resilient and reliable transport network that can better manage demand, incidents and extreme weather and the infrastructure that will support the decarbonisation of the transport system.

The plan proposes, with a total capital cost of £45 billion over 27 years – the transport interventions included in this plan alone will generate 21,000 new jobs; an additional £4.1billion growth in GVA a year by 2050; an additional 550,000 rail trips a day and 1.6 million bus, mass transit and ferry trips a day, and take more than four million car trips a day off the roads of the South East.

This growth will not come from transport alone, but transport will be a vital part of the jigsaw and an enabler of growth in other sectors. Realising this opportunity will require an integrated approach to investment and delivery. It will require working across institutional, sectoral, and spatial boundaries.

The plan is supported by an evidence-base setting out proposals across the south-east region. The proposals within Southampton include rail improvements identified in the Solent Connectivity Strategic Study, improvements to Central Station and a potential underground link between Central Station and the Netley line, which would support the aspiration for metro-levels of services. Citywide packages of interventions for Active Travel and Mass Transit will deliver aspirations set out in the Cycling Strategy and Bus Service Improvement Plan whereas the Strategic Highways package includes the replacement of Northam Rail Bridge, West Quay Road alignment and improved access to the Port.

Councillor Eamonn Keogh, Cabinet Member for Transport and District Regeneration at Southampton City Council, said:

“TfSE’s plans are ambitious and would completely transform the way we all travel around the region. We are committed to establishing Southampton as a City of Opportunity, where residents, workers and visitors can enjoy the many benefits that these plans would deliver. Investing in these plans would significantly reduce the air pollution caused by private cars, create thousands of new jobs that would enhance the local economy, and provide much easier and cleaner ways to travel for years to come.”

TfSE would like to hear from anyone who lives, works, travels through or visits the South East region. To view the draft Strategic Investment Plan, register for a consultation event or to respond to the consultation visit Transport for the South East or the Strategic Investment Plan Consultation.

The consultation will close on 12 September 2022.