Peninsula Transport and Western Gateway commission rural mobility strategy

Sub-national transport bodies Peninsula Transport and Western Gateway have commissioned consultant WSP to develop a combined Rural Mobility Strategy for the South-West of England. 

The strategy, which is described as the first rural mobility strategy developed at a sub-national level, will help shape rural mobility policy across the South-West by reflecting the diversity of and differences between rural areas. The scope will include smaller coastal and estuarine settlements to understand the additional challenges that remote locations face. 

Led by WSP’s Future Mobility team, with support from the Planning and Transport Planning disciplines, the strategy will identify the places most in need of support in rural areas and identify bundles of mobility interventions to support them.  

The final strategy document, due to be published later this year, will set out the challenges of mobility in rural areas and a range of interventions to support the UK Government’s ‘levelling-up’ agenda. 

Giles Perkins, Head of Profession, Future Mobility at WSP said, “We’re excited to tackle the long-standing challenges that face our rural and coastal communities in this ground-breaking commission.

“By considering in detail the types of communities, the blend of people and businesses that live and work there, and the activities they undertake, we will assess emerging and innovative transport and mobility solutions to address decades long inequities.”  

Councillor Andrea Davis, Chairman, Peninsula Transport added, “Improved rural mobility is vital to the Peninsula and will improve connections between people, places, services and businesses, as well as help to achieve decarbonisation goals.  

“Taking both a people and place-focused approach means we can investigate the key mobility issues. By understanding those experiences, specific needs and aspirations we can look at targeted interventions that foster better rural connectivity, ensuring that rural communities are not left behind." 

Cllr Mike Greene, Chair, Western Gateway Sub-national Transport Body said, “By identifying the challenges rural areas face, we can work together to begin to recommend pilot projects to address these.”