Transport East asks government to invest in East’s transport infrastructure
Transport East has submitted compelling evidence to persuade the government to fund critical transport infrastructure in the East as part of the government’s comprehensive spending review. The submission seeks long-term funding allocations for our local authority partners to support integrated transport projects and plans.
The submission also asks for essential schemes to be funded including:
Ely and Haughley rail upgrades: Crucial and delayed infrastructure to support nationally significant rail freight routes and enhanced passenger services to Ipswich, King’s Lynn and Norwich. Can remove nearly 100,000 HGV journeys from the region’s roads.
Rail enhancements between: Clacton and Colchester, Ipswich and Peterborough/Cambridge and increased connectivity to and from Stansted airport. Collectively these enhancements can increase the frequency and provide a sustainable choice for journeys between key urban areas.
Key road schemes: A12 East of Ipswich, A10 West Winch in King’s Lynn, Army & Navy in Chelmsford, Norwich Western Link, A47/A11 Thickthorn junction and widening the A12 between junctions 19 and 25. These schemes can deliver much-needed improvements to key roads on the East’s network, supporting planned housing and jobs growth, improving safety and delivering local public transport, walking, wheeling and cycling improvements.
Each scheme supports the region’s transport strategy, is ready for delivery and is supported by the East’s local authorities, businesses and other partners. They are also backed by a strong case supporting the government’s missions and growth ambitions. The submission outlines why the East is pivotal to support the nation’s prosperity and economic growth by powering, feeding and supplying the UK. This includes being:
- An international gateway for the movement of goods and people in the UK, with 13 ports – including the Port of Felixstowe, where 50% of the nation’s container freight moves through – and three airports including Stansted, the UK’s fourth busiest airport for passenger journeys and the UK’s third largest cargo airport.
- A significant contributor to clean and renewable energy through the UK’s largest off-shore wind cluster – powering 19.2 million homes by 2035 and Sizewell C, which is expected to deliver 7% of the UK’s current electricity demand.
- A major source of food production and food security with 15% of England’s farmed land.
Will Quince, Chair Executive of Transport East, said:
“Transport in the East is vital to enable residents and businesses to succeed, and to unlock economic growth in region and the nation. This is why we have worked with partners to set out a compelling case for the infrastructure and funding certainty the East needs to thrive.
We call on Government to commit to these essential projects and long-term funding which are needed to deliver integrated transport and infrastructure projects, improve local journeys, support new homes and economic growth, and make sure a future pipeline of projects is developed.”
A campaign, known as Enabling the East: Priority Transport Investment, will continue highlighting the benefits of the outlined schemes. The Chancellor is expected to announce funding decisions in late spring of 2025.