Latest News and Events

  • EEH welcomes A428 progress

    Plans to improve the A428 between the A1 Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire and the A428 Caxton Gibbet roundabout in Cambridgeshire moved a step closer today, after Highways England’s proposals were formally accepted by the Planning Inspectorate for examination.

    The Planning Inspectorate will now start the process of a full examination of Highways England’s proposals before deciding whether to grant a Development Consent Order, which will help to inform the …

    March 24th 2021
  • EEH welcomes Ox-Cam expressway announcement

    Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has today announced the cancellation of the Oxford to Cambridge expressway project between Oxford and Milton Keynes.

    Mayor Dave Hodgson, Chair of England’s Economic Heartland's Strategic Transport Forum, said: "This is a welcome announcement that provides clarity to those planning for the region’s future between Oxford and Milton Keynes. 

    "As our Transport Strategy sets out, delivery of strategic schemes, including East West Rail and mass transit …

    March 18th 2021
  • Five talking points from Transport Strategy webinar

    "Make no mistake, these priorities are ambitious"

    Strategic Transport Forum Chair, Mayor Dave Hodgson, explains the ambition for a net zero transport system by as early as 2040, 10 years ahead of the legal requirement.

    "This region has enormous economic potential"

    Iain Stewart, MP for Milton Keynes South, highlights why the region is so important to the UK economy.

    "We need to change our perspective on how we use roads" …

    March 3rd 2021
  • Watch the Transport Strategy webinar in full

    England's Economic Heartland held a webinar on February 26, 2021, to mark the launch of the Transport Strategy.

    Chaired by Local Transport Today editor Andrew Forster, the panel included:

    Mayor Dave Hodgson, Chair of the Strategic Transport Forum

    Iain Stewart, Milton Keynes MP

    Naomi Green, EEH Head of Technical Programme

    Mike Smith, Network Rail

    Phil Southall, Chair of EEH Bus Operators' Association

    March 1st 2021
  • Transport Strategy aims for net zero carbon emissions 10 years ahead of 2050 legal requirement

    An ambitious strategy which sets out how the region’s transport system can support economic growth while delivering net zero emissions by as early as 2040 has been published by England’s Economic Heartland (EEH) today (Thursday, February 25).

    The Transport Strategy – Connecting People, Transforming Journeys – has been submitted to the Secretary of State for Transport, enabling the region’s priorities to shape investment decisions going forwards, as well as being …

    February 25th 2021
  • Job alert: Could you be our new Business Manager?

    Martin Tugwell quote

    We have a unique opportunity for a confident individual to play a key role in running the unit for England’s Economic Heartland as the new Business Manager.

    With ambitious plans to get to net-zero emissions by 2040, you’ll be involved in exciting projects from the very beginning. Plus, you’ll be working with Senior Officers and Politicians, so this is a high profile and influential position.

    If you have experience of …

    February 23rd 2021
  • EEH welcomes East West Rail funding announcement

    Government has confirmed £760m for East West Rail between Oxford and Bletchley/Milton Keynes - with services due by 2025.

    The investment means further vital construction work can begin and represents an important milestone in the East West Rail project. Delivery of this stage is expected to provide work for 1,500 people, injecting an estimated £1.1bn into the local economy. 

    Mayor Dave Hodgson, Chair of England's Economic Heartland's Strategic Transport Forum, …

    January 25th 2021
  • Look ahead to 2021: a year of implementation

    February 2021 will be a major milestone for England's Economic Heartland when we publish the final version of the Transport Strategy.  But already our focus is on how we implement the Strategy and ensure that we secure the investment that our partners need to deliver on the ground.

    We'll do this by building on the tremendous amount of work that's been completed in 2020. Our programme for the year ahead …

    December 16th 2020
  • MARTIN TUGWELL BLOG: Regional funding allocation would help ensure transport strategy is delivered

    England's Economic Heartland should commit to going 'harder and faster' on reaching net zero emissions from transport before the nationwide legal requirement of 2050.

    That is the message from EEH's recent consultation on the draft Transport Strategy, with residents and organisations calling for an even more ambitious path to decarbonisation, particularly given the region's renowned expertise in green technology innovation.

    At their meeting on Friday, elected members of EEH's Strategic …

    November 30th 2020
  • EEH statement on Spending Review 2020

    Mayor Dave Hodgson, Chair of EEH's Strategic Transport Forum, provides England's Economic Heartland's response to the Spending Review and related announcements, which took place on November 25, 2020.

    ​Confirmation of the funding to deliver the 'Bicester-Bletchley' section of East West Rail is pleasing - a reflection of the national significance of the project as set out in the National Infrastructure Strategy. However, we are still waiting on confirmation of the …

    November 30th 2020