Along with Peninsula Transport, we’ve joined forces to offer up to £100,000 (£50k each), to fund a number of rural transport schemes, aimed at improving connectivity in harder to reach places within the South West.
Rural areas in our region face a significant number of challenges to the sustainability of communities and their economics, which are not being met by the existing transport system. These include operational sustainability of rural transport, meeting Net Zero targets, making rural mobility more equal and affordable for users, meeting local community needs and making tourism-related mobility more sustainable.
Therefore, we’re funding a number of pilot transport projects to help tackle these barriers. To date, we’ve already funded three pilots across the region, from a bus in Bridport, to Demand-Responsive Transport promotion in Gloucestershire, to a low-carbon shared mobility club in the Forest of Dean.
Now, organisations and local authorities can apply for a second round of funding. Schemes are eligible if they can address at least one of the six challenges:
- How can rural transport be made more operationally sustainable in the long term?
- How can the Net Zero challenge be met in rural areas?
- How can rural mobility be more equitable for residents and visitors?
- How can accessing daily needs be made more affordable for residents and visitors?
- How can the needs of rural communities be met more locally?
- How can tourism-related mobility become more sustainable?
Pilots can be submitted by different sectors including local authorities, other public sector organisations, businesses and charities or community organisations, and more information can be found in the pilot prospectus below.
Please apply here: APPLICATION FORM
Applications close at midnight on Sunday 5th October 2025.
Email us at WesternGatewaySTB@westofengland-ca.gov.uk for any more information, or to send any supporting documents.
Download the South West Rural Mobility Prospectus: 2025/26 Rural Mobility Pilot Prospectus
To find out more about our work on rural mobility, visit: Rural Mobility | Western Gateway STB
