EEDA - East of England Development Agency

Transport options for growth to be studied

14 December 2009

EEDA and EERA have welcomed the Department for Transport’s decision to fund important transport studies to promote travel options that will boost the economy in the region and reduce environmental impacts.

Following a joint submission made to the government by EEDA and EERA, the Department for Transport has agreed to provide up to £1.4 million for the studies which will identify transport priorities for the region for the periods 2014 to 2019 and 2019 to 2024. 

The studies will look at transport options that support economic growth but with low carbon impacts and include the Greater Cambridge area, Chelmsford, along the A12 as well as places and settlements near to London.

The studies will examine how best the region's transport systems can support economic growth and business activity, whilst at the same time tackling climate change, improving the quality of life of residents, and promote greater safety, security and health.

Shona Johnstone, EEDA board member and transport lead, said:

"This is good news for the region.  The Department for Transport's support for this work reflects the strong case we have made to government on the importance of addressing transport problems in the East of England.  With these studies we will be able to develop a programme of measures to help address the significant costs that transport imposes on the region's businesses and residents.  They also give us the opportunity to be creative in developing transport solutions which will be particularly important given government funding constraints going forward."

Cllr Derrick Ashley, Chairman of EERA’s Regional Planning Panel, said:

“These studies will help our case for government investment in transport to support the delivery of the East of England Plan.  We need to find greener ways to travel to keep people and the economy moving whilst reducing the negative impacts.  Improving reliability and reducing congestion is a priority because stop-start traffic and gridlock on our roads is bad for the economy, the environment and our quality of life.”

Part of the Department for Transport’s 'Delivering a Sustainable Transport' programme, the studies will be completed over the next 15 months.

The successful bid for funding follows work undertaken last year by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) which showed that congestion in the region will cost the UK economy more than £2 billion a year by 2021 unless action is taken.

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