Poor transport links put nearly a third of north-east England at risk of poverty

Over 30% of the north-East England population is affected by or at risk of transport-related social exclusion (TRSE).

This Transport for the North (TfN) finding formed part of the discussion at the Department for Transport’s (DfT) first national consultation roadshow held in Newcastle in February.

TRSE, which affects 18% of England as a whole, means people are unable to access key services and employment opportunities because of poor transport links.

It keeps poverty cycles going by excluding certain areas from opportunities to improve their circumstances.

The consultation was held as part of DfT's work to develop its integrated national transport strategy, which the ICE is feeding into.

The roadshow event gave local North East transport experts the opportunity to feed into the strategy.

Safety, accessibility, and net zero emerged as key priorities for the transport system, but the focus of the day was on how to achieve these goals.

Embedding transport into wider strategy

Transport links determine access to economic, educational, and health opportunities.

Therefore, it’s vital that it’s planned as part of wider strategies to stimulate growth in areas that need it.

Housing and transport

A split between housing and transport planning results in remote developments becoming inaccessible for those relying on public transport.

Delegates recommended that transport is considered before housing, requiring developers to build new homes around existing links or at least planned in line with them.

Climate targets

Attendees noted that climate goals don’t match current investment in electrifying rail and active transport.

Some rail company representatives flagged that diesel fleets are still being bought to roll out into 2030 because battery operated trains aren’t developed enough for investment yet.

Transport strategies must consider the whole picture, including other industries like tech, to ensure that plans are actually possible.

By taking a whole-system approach to transport, the government can understand transport as part of a bigger developmental picture.

Public insight an untapped resource

Transport planners need to ensure that they are exhausting all levels of expertise, from the local transport user to the railway expert.

This means engaging at the right time with the right people at the right level.

When it comes to infrastructure planning, the public are a largely untapped resource.

Local communities know what they need to thrive and can offer insight on which services need improvement around them.

Authorities and institutions must consult local people as part of the planning process to ensure that resources are strategically allocated for maximum impact.

This is where private sector experts come in, by bridging the gap between local insights and wider strategy with technical expertise on project delivery.