Businesses in the South East urged to have their say on 'transformational' thirty-year transport strategy with sustainability at its heart

• Investment could unlock massive growth, more than doubling the South East's economy and supporting half a million new jobs by 2050
• Strategy sets out bold and compelling future that is better for people, better for business and better for the planet
• Prioritising greater investment in public transport is the only feasible way to reduce congestion, cut emissions and boost air quality in the long term

People and businesses in the Coast to Capital area are being urged to have their say on a proposed thirty-year transport strategy for the South East which aims to improve journeys, boost the economy and protect the environment.

The strategy outlines how, with the right investment in our region's transport network, the South East's economy will more than double by 2050 to between £450 billion and £500 billion per year - creating an additional 500,000 jobs, boosting quality of life and access to opportunities for all and helping cut the South East's carbon emissions to net-zero.

It has been produced by Transport for the South East, a unique partnership bringing together local authorities, business leaders and transport organisations to speak with one voice on our region's transport priorities.

A major focus of the strategy is reducing the region's reliance on private cars to reduce congestion, cut carbon emissions and improve air quality. Today, cars account for 70% of all journeys in the South East compared to just 4% by rail and 5% by bus. It also highlights how better transport links can support economic growth around our key international gateways, such as Gatwick Airport, which are vital to the local, regional and national economy.

To do this, the strategy sets out a thirty-year framework to guide decisions about where, when and how money is invested in the South East's transport network, along with a range of schemes and initiatives to make sustainable travel easier and more attractive to people and businesses. These could include better and faster rail journeys, improved links to ports and airports, a real-terms freeze on rail fares, cheaper off-peak fares and extra funding to protect and enhance vital bus services.

Martin Harris, Coast to Capital Board Member said:

"If our economy is to sustainably grow, we need a transport network that supports faster, more reliable, and less polluting journeys for business, leisure and freight travel. We aim to support the delivery of long-term increases in railway capacity, particularly on the Brighton main line. Transport for the South East has emerged as an effective partnership and I would urge businesses across the Coast to Capital area to respond to the consultation to help shape future investment opportunities."

The draft transport strategy identifies priorities for future investment by looking at the challenges people and businesses will face in moving around the region and the opportunities these present to support sustainable economic growth.

These include a range specific schemes as well as wider policies and initiatives. For example, the strategy argues for greater use of new and emerging technology such as connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) to boost connectivity. It makes the case for policy changes to enable more joined up planning, particularly between transport and housing, to help reduce the need to travel and build more sustainable communities. And the strategy also recognises that tough decisions will need to be made about how, not if, we manage demand on the busiest parts of our transport networks.

The final transport strategy is due for publication in April 2020, with a strategic investment plan planned for publication in 2021. This will provide a prioritised, costed and deliverable list of schemes, initiatives and policies to start turning the South East's vision into reality.

Have your say

To read the draft transport strategy and take part in the consultation, go to tfse.org.uk/transport-strategy. The deadline for responses is Friday, 10 January 2020.