The role of the STB is to bridge the gap between national government, while supporting the individual focuses of our local authorities and priorities at all levels. Let’s take a look at the themes emerging across both, and how we’ll bridge both in 2026.
The local lens:
Our local authorities have sent us their strategic priorities for the year, and shared transport themes are emerging!
Across the Western Gateway region, the focuses are on:
- Decarbonisation and sustainable travel: Reducing transport emissions through modal shift to active travel, public transport and electric vehicles, aligned with climate emergency commitments.
- Active travel and healthier places: Investment in walking and cycling infrastructure, safer streets, and traffic management to support wellbeing, accessibility and inclusivity
- Public transport and mass transit enhancement: Improving bus infrastructure and services alongside longer term ambitions for higher capacity public transport, including tram and corridor-based schemes
- Place-based and corridor-focused delivery: Targeting transport investment at town centres, growth areas and key routes to support regeneration, access to services, and placemaking.
- Funding, delivery and strategic governance: Developing business cases, implementing existing and emerging LTP priorities, and pursuing devolution for coordinated, long-term delivery.
Nationally, what’s the picture?
- Devolution with the creation of new Mayoral Combined Authorities with new powers for rail and bus
- Creation of Great British Railways and the nationalisation of the remaining train operating companies
- Bus Services Act and the new requirements for socially necessary bus services
- New local transport authority requirement to produce a Transport Delivery Plan
- Integrated National Transport Strategy for England expected in early 2026 with a focus on people, places and partnerships
- Accelerated housing delivery with the revised National Planning Policy Framework targets
- New Department for Transport guidance on quantifying carbon, connectivity tool and still to be published the new Local Transport Plan guidance
- Electric vehicle rollout continues to accelerate, with plans for more EV charging points
So how is Western Gateway STB bridging the gap?
We’re delivering on all areas above, and beyond.
Decarbonisation and sustainable transport
- Our second round of rural mobility pilots continue to deliver low-carbon, inclusive solutions. Read more about them here.
- We continue to host our regular EV forums, engaging with stakeholders across the region
- Our freight work focuses on efficiency and effectiveness, understanding operators needs and helping our local authorities to plan for freight.
- With our Regional Centre of Excellence work – carrying out a resilience assessment of the transport network
Active travel
- Our rural mobility pilots aid accessibility and inclusion
- Seeking opportunities to support the delivery of strategic cycle routes across the region, identified and prioritised in our Strategic Cycle Strategy and associated Route Development Programme completed this year.
Public transport & mass transit enhancement
- Rail upgrades at Westbury Station (Platform 0) to improve passenger and freight connectivity and business case development for the Heart of Wessex Line, West of England Line and Dorset Metro.
- Coach and rail forums supporting service coordination and planning
Place-based & corridor-focused delivery
- Ongoing work to support the delivery of vision-led planning through partnership work with local authorities and statutory planning stakeholders
- Work with Homes England, National Highways, Network Rail, Active Travel England, STBs and Local Authorities to explore opportunities and address barriers to delivery of new housing along the corridor between Birmingham and Plymouth
- Rail connectivity improvements supporting regional and inter-urban corridors
- Freight feasibility work (e.g. Avonmouth Rail Freight Terminal) tied to major employment and logistics locations
- Making the case for change taking a region wide multi-modal approach to the need for investment
Funding, delivery & strategic governance
- Annual delivery aligned to our Work Plan and funding from our local authorities
- Freight, coach, rail and EV forums enabling collaboration across stakeholders
- Partnership working with STBs, local authorities, Network Rail, National Highways, Homes England and operators
- Regional Centre of Excellence activities (spatial planning tool)
- Our internships with University of the West of England and University of Gloucestershire
- Preparation of evaluation frameworks and feasibility studies
Altogether, these demonstrate our focus on collaboration and transforming strategy into action. We look forward to continuing to strengthen regional connectivity. Take a look around our website to find out more about what we do.
