The most in-depth guidance yet on how to develop business cases for mobility hubs – particularly in more rural areas – has been published by England’s Economic Heartland.
The work will support local authorities in the region – and potentially across the country – as they plan visible, safe, and accessible spaces where public, shared and active travel modes are co-located.
The guidance was developed with support from the charity CoMoUK and input from EEH’s partner authorities at Milton Keynes Council, Oxfordshire County Council and Hertfordshire County Council.
It provides practical advice on developing the strategic, economic and financial cases for mobility hubs, including consideration of optioneering, appraisal and logic mapping. The guidance, which has received positive feedback from DfT colleagues, is framed throughout by three scenarios in which mobility hubs could be created – rural village, rural station and a peri-urban environment.
On 3 March EEH’s Strategic Transport Leadership Board agreed the next phase of work, working with local authorities to identify potential locations for mobility hubs in the region. This includes development of an assessment tool which will consider locations based on factors such as potential demand and benefits, likely costs and links to public transport.
Chair of England’s Economic Heartland, Cllr Richard Wenham, said: “Mobility hubs offer an exciting opportunity to increase uptake of sustainable travel modes while also improving community spaces and facilities. However up until now there has not been a comprehensive, single source of information for local authorities on how to develop business cases for mobility hubs – particularly those in less populated areas. This guidance will be used by our partners in the region but its advice will be helpful to local authorities right across the country.
“Realising the potential of mobility hubs is a key policy in our transport strategy. The guidance and the next phase of work which will look at potential locations for mobility hubs are more examples of how EEH is getting on and supporting our local authorities with the tools they need to deliver our shared priorities.”
See below for the Mobility Hubs Guidance document