English Regional Transport Bodies
The are currently eight or nine sub-national (or regional) transport bodies in England, depending on how you count Greater Manchester. In the regions their membership is formed from a mix of local highways authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs), local airports, Highways England, Network Rail and Department for Transport. They also work closely with Chambers of Commerce and other business interests. While they are normally led by local authority leaders, there is very little input, if any from the voluntary or social and environmental sectors.
England's Economic Heartland
Area covered: Bedford, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Central Bedfordshire, Luton, Hertfordshire, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Peterborough and Swindon
Leadership Team: Bedford Borough Council, Buckinghamshire County Council, Cambridgeshire County Council, Central Bedfordshire Council, Luton Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Milton Keynes Council, Northamptonshire County Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Swindon Borough Council and LEPs: Oxfordshire, South East Midlands, Buckinghamshire Thames Valley, Swindon and Wiltshire , Hertfordshire
Lead / hosting authority: Buckinghamshire County Council
Statutory Status: Yet to consult on powers
Transport Strategy: EEH consulted on its outline strategy in 2019. A draft Transport Strategy was consulted on from July to October 2020.
More information can be found on our dedicated page.
Midlands Connect
Area covered: Birmingham, Coventry, Derby, Derbyshire, Dudley, Herefordshire, Leicester, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, Rutland, Sandwell, Shropshire, Solihull, Staffordshire, Stoke on Trent, Telford & Wrekin, Walsall, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton and Worcestershire
Strategic board members: Wolverhampton City Council, Staffordshire County Council, Worcestershire County Council, Nottingham City Council, Leicestershire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, The Marches LEP, Stoke on Trent & Staffordshire Enterprise Partnership, East Midlands Airport, HS2 Ltd, Network Rail, Highways England, Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP, Derbyshire County Council, DfT, West Midlands Combined Authority, Transport for the West Midlands
Lead / hosting authority: West Midlands Combined Authority
Statutory Status: Consulted on powers in 2018 - no further progress since then
Transport Strategy: Strategy published March 2017
More information about Midlands Connect can be found on our dedicated page.
Peninsula Transport
Area covered: Cornwall, Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay
Board members: All local highways authorities - Co-opted members: Isles of Scilly Council, Cornwall and Isles of Scilly LEP, Heart of South West LEP, Network Rail, Highways England, DfT, Stakeholder Forum, Western Gateway
Lead / hosting authority: Plymouth City Council
Statutory Status: Shadow body
Transport Strategy: None at present
More information about Peninsula Transport can be found on our dedicated page.
Transport East
Area covered: Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk, Southend-on-Sea and Thurrock
Forum* members: Essex County Council, Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council, Southend on Sea Borough Council, Thurrock Council, 1 district council rep from each of the three counties, New Anglia LEP, South East LEP, Essex Chamber of Commerce, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, Highways England, Network Rail
Lead / hosting authority: Suffolk County Council
Statutory Status: Non-statutory
Transport Strategy: Currently being developed
More information about Transport East can be found on our dedicated page.
*Forum - this term is used by other transport bodies to represent a broader stakeholder group. It is more of a board here.
Transport for Greater Manchester (but also part of Transport for the North)
Area covered: Greater Manchester
Board: Appointed by Mayor of Greater Manchester
Parent authority: Greater Manchester Combined Authority
Statutory Status: Statutory body
Transport Strategy: The Greater Manchester Transport Strategy 2040
More information about the Transport for Greater Manchester can be found on our dedicated page.
Transport for London
Area covered: Greater London
Board: Appointed by Mayor of London
Parent authority: Greater London Authority
Statutory Status: Statutory body
Transport Strategy: The Mayor's Transport Strategy
More information about the Transport for London can be found on our dedicated page.
Transport for the North
Area covered: Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Cheshire East, Cheshire West & Chester, Cumbria, Durham, East Riding of Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, Hull, Lancashire, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, Sheffield, Tees Valley, Warrington, York
Note: Strategic Rail which is part of Transport for the North covers an area that extends into the Midlands Connect area so there are some authorities with a foot in both sub-national transport bodies.
Statutory Status: Statutory body
Board: Independent chairman, all the local highways authorities, except Liverpool and Sheffield which are represented by their city region mayors, former Rail North Authorities (Strategic Rail): Derbyshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire County Councils, Nottingham City Council and Stoke on Trent City Council, LEPs: Cheshire and Warrington, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Hull and Humber, Lancashire, Leeds City Region, Liverpool City Region, North East, York North Yorkshire and East Riding, Sheffield City Region, Tees Valley, Network Rail, Highways England, HS2 Ltd
Statutory Status: since 2018
Transport Strategy: Strategic Transport Plan
More information about Transport for the North can be found on our dedicated page.
Transport for the South East
Area covered: Berkshire Local Transport Body, Brighton & Hove, East Sussex, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Kent, Medway, Portsmouth, Southampton, Surrey, West Sussex
Board: East Sussex, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and West Sussex County Councils, Brighton & Hove City Council, Isle of Wight Council, Medway Council, Portsmouth City Council, Reading Borough Council, Southampton City Council, TfSE Transport Forum, Enterprise M3 LEP, Coast to Capital LEP, Protected landscapes representative, 2 district council representatives, Network Rail, Highways England
Lead / hosting authority: East Sussex County Council
Statutory Status: Consulted on powers in summer 2019
Transport Strategy: Consultation on its draft strategy ended on 10 January 2020
More information about Transport for the South East can be found on our dedicated page.
Western Gateway
Area covered: Bath and North East Somerset, BCP Council (Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole), Bristol, Dorset, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire
Board: All the local highways authorities, West of England Combined Authority, Network Rail, Highways England, DfT
Lead / hosting authority: Gloucestershire County Council
Statutory Status: Shadow body
Transport Strategy: None at present
More information about Western Gateway can be found on our dedicated page.
Welsh Regional Transport Bodies
There are currently no regional transport bodies in Wales, but the Welsh Government is looking to set one up in North Wales to test out the idea.
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