Wales

Responsibilities & Strategies

The Welsh Government is responsible for transport policy and delivery within Wales although it does not have control over all the railways.

In February 2021, the Welsh Government adopted the country's first development plan Future Wales: The National Plan 2040 which aims for people to live in places where travel has low environmental impact and low emissions, with reduced reliance on private vehicles.

It followed this up with a new transport strategy: Llwybr Newydd: the Wales Transport Strategy 2021 where it set out how it wants to deliver a more equitable and sustainable transport system in Wales that works better for everyone, now and in the future. The strategy set out a sustainable transport hierarchy to guide investment:

  1. walking and cycling (highest priority)
  2. public transport
  3. ultra-low emission vehicles
  4. other private motor vehicles (lowest priority)

In October 2021 the Net Zero Wales Carbon Budget 2 was published which outlined how the Welsh Government's climate change pledges would be delivered. Within this document ambitious transport targets were set:

  • Reduce average car miles travelled per person by 10% below 2019 levels by 2030
  • Increase the proportion of trips by public transport and active travel to 35% by 2025 and 39% by 2030
  • By 2025 it wants to see 10% of passenger travel by zero emission car and 48% of new car sales to be zero emission

Welsh Regional Bodies

Wales has been divided into four regions which are each overseen by a Corporate Joint Committee (CJC) - see below for areas covered. These CJC's have a statutory duty to:

  • Prepare a Strategic Development Plan (SDP)
  • Prepare a Regional Transport Plan (RTP)
  • Enhance and promote the economic well-being of the region

From April 2026, these CJCs will be implementing their RTPs.

North Wales

Ambition North Wales is made up of representatives of the following local authorities: Anglesey, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Wrexham and Eryri National Park Authority.

Mid Wales

Growing Mid Wales is made up of representatives of the following local authorities: Ceredigion, Powys and Bannau Brycheiniog National Park Authority (for strategic planning only).

South West Wales

South West Wales is made up of representatives of the following local authorities: Carmarthenshire, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Swansea and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

South East Wales

Cardiff Capital Region is made up of representatives of the following local authorities: Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen, Vale of Glamorgan, and Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park Authority.

Roads Review

In September 2021, Lee Waters MS, Deputy Minister for Climate Change in the Welsh Government set up an independent panel and asked it to review new road projects that hadn't started construction against climate change objectives.

The Roads Review examined the pipeline of road investment to assess whether it was aligned with these new policies. It was also informed by the goals in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

It published the following reports:

The Welsh Government's response was published in February 2023 alongside its National transport delivery plan 2022 to 2027.

Transport Commissions

The Welsh Government set up two transport commissions to look at alternative transport options for different parts of Wales.

South East Wales

The South East Wales Transport Commission, chaired by Lord Burns, was established to look at alternative ways of reducing congestion on the M4. It published its final report in November 2020. In January 2021 the Welsh Government set up the Burns Delivery Unit to accelerate implementation of the 58 recommendations of the Commission. It produced its second annual report in January 2023 and Our Prospectus for Travel in South East Wales in October 2024

North Wales

In February 2022, the Welsh Government announced it would set up a North Wales Transport Commission to hold a year-long review to develop recommendations for road, rail, bus and active travel across the whole of north Wales. The commission produced its interim report in June 2023 and its final report in December 2023.

It also produced a report on improving resilience of the connections across the Menai Strait in December 2023.

If you would like to get in touch with Rhian Nowell-Phillips, our Welsh roads and climate campaigner, you can phone her on: 07802 775780

Facebook and Twitter: @TANCymru

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