South-east England’s transport network receives £2 million funding

Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, has announced £2 million worth of funding will be given to England’s Economic Heartland and Transport for the South East, to develop strategies for the improvement of transporting passengers and goods.

Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary, said: “This government is committed to empowering regions across the UK by giving them a stronger influence over the future of transport in their area. This will help us build the modern and effective links our country needs, improving journey times, boosting housing development and economic growth, and getting people and goods where they need to be faster, safely and more comfortably."

“Investing in England’s Economic Heartland and Transport for the South East means that those best placed to make decisions have our support to put forward ambitious proposals for the future. We will continue to work closely with these organisations as they develop transport strategies to help their regions seize their potential.”

As part of the ambition to give UK regions greater influence within transport investment decisions, the two sub-national transport bodies, will use the government funding to develop innovative transport plans for the future of their regions.

These plans will allow people in the counties of Kent, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire to influence government investment decisions at a more regional level.

Councillor Keith Glazier, Chairman of Transport for the South East, said: “This is a great step forward for our region’s transport system and all the people who rely on it. We’re grateful to the DfT for this vote of confidence in Transport for the South East and in the work we’re doing with them to ensure we have an innovative and efficient network for decades to come.”

England’s Economic Heartland is a body covering an area from Oxfordshire through to Cambridgeshire County. It is currently developing its blueprint for transport to unlock jobs and housing across the region.

Councillor Martin Tett, Chairman of England’s Economic Heartland, said: “This investment will help us deliver our ambitious programme of work over the next 12 months, which includes developing an over-arching Transport Strategy and taking forward work to establish England’s Economic Heartland as a sub-national transport body."

“This vote of confidence will help ensure our region can compete on the global stage by exploiting its excellence in innovation, technology and research.”

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