Economic Connectivity Study

The Western Gateway economic connectivity study was included in its Regional Evidence Base, submitted to the Department of Transport in July 2019, to identify Sub-national priorities for the major road network from 2020 to 2025.

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The economic connectivity study includes the below areas and key points:

15 strategically important travel corridors

The Strategic Corridors

15 key travel corridors link important locations across the Western Gateway, including cities, ports, and airports.

Corridors facilitate economic activity and link neighboring areas.

The Western Gateway has identified 15 strategic travel corridors that link crucial locations across the area. These corridors connect major urban centers, ports, and airports, enhancing overall connectivity. They either traverse multiple authorities within the Gateway area or provide vital linkages to neighboring regions, from which the Gateway will benefit significantly.

These corridors have been selected based on their existing status and function, particularly their role in linking primary urban areas and ports. They serve as high-level facilitators of increased economic activity and are designed to be adaptable, accommodating various modes of transport.

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A growing and diverse economy

The Economy of the Western Gateway

3+ million residents with a projected growth of 15% by 2041 (ONS).

Over 1.6 million jobs, with Bristol Airport and 4 major seaports driving economic connectivity.

Fast-growing urban and rural areas with potential for investment.

The Western Gateway encompasses a large geographical area with a diverse economy that includes some of the UK’s fastest-growing regions alongside more rural areas experiencing connectivity challenges. This area is home to over 3 million people and is poised for future economic expansion.

According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the population is projected to increase by 448,000 people by 2041, representing a growth rate of 15%. This rate surpasses the 12% growth forecast for England over the same period.

An ambitious agenda has been developed to address the need for housing and employment opportunities, aligning with the growing attractiveness of the Western Gateway for inward investment and sustained economic development. Currently, employment in the area stands at 1,659,000, with the West of England and Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole city regions providing over half of all available jobs.

The Western Gateway features several major international transport hubs. Bristol Airport is the busiest international gateway in the South West, serving approximately 8.4 million passengers annually and offering over 100 destinations across Europe, the Middle East, and North America. The airport’s current capacity of 10 million passengers is expected to be reached in the early 2020s, highlighting an imminent capacity constraint.

The region is also served by four significant sea ports located in Bristol, Poole, Sharpness, and Weymouth and Portland. In 2017, these ports processed 10.5 million tonnes of goods, accounting for 2% of all goods processed through UK ports. To maintain their competitive edge and maximize their potential, it is crucial that these ports are well-connected to the national transport network.

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Economic Impacts

Quantifiable benefits of improved connectivity

Improved transport enhances productivity along each corridor.

Increased GVA from new employment sites.

Unlocking land value by developing housing in key areas.

The 15 strategic corridors have three main types of quantifiable impacts associated with their development:

Increased Productivity: Enhanced connectivity along each corridor leads to improved productivity, enabling businesses to operate more efficiently and access new markets.

Increased Gross Value Added (GVA): Employment at new sites planned across the Western Gateway area will contribute positively to the overall economic output of the region.

Land Value Gains: Unlocking land for housing development at new sites will lead to increased land values, providing a significant boost to the local economy.

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Connecting the UK’s fastest-growing areas

Key Findings and Conclusion

Prioritizing corridors for maximum economic benefit.

Enhancing connectivity will drive growth in the Western Gateway and beyond, benefiting neighboring regions.

This Economic Connectivity analysis has shown that the Western Gateway area should be viewed as both a single area containing some of the UK’s fastest-growing local economies as well as being a crucial facilitator of improved connectivity to other parts of the country, including the South West, the Solent area, South Wales and the West Midlands.

Enhanced corridor connectivity across the Western Gateway area will therefore boost economic activity and productivity within the STB area whilst also greatly assisting growth across other neighbouring STBs.

It is important that connectivity across the 15 strategic corridors is enhanced so that a range of positive outcomes – that align well with Government objectives – can be achieved. The Connectivity analysis has shown that productivity levels, housing provision and employment at key sites can be increased as a result of improved connectivity.

There will also be scope for providers of different modes to work together along each of the corridors. This will enable a more holistic approach to economic benefit maximisation to be adopted on each of the corridors.

With the UK facing a degree of economic uncertainty and given the need to rebalance the economy away from reliance on London and the South East, the strategic corridors throughout the Western Gateway area offer an excellent means of generating additional activity as well as an ability to improve links between communities and centres of economic activity.

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