INTER URBAN TRANSPORT STRATEGY STUDY COMPLETED

October 2009

The mksm partnership has now completed its work to develop its Inter Urban Transport Strategy. The new Strategy sits between local and regional plans and aims to inform and influence transport policy across national, regional and local partners.

The report, achieved by partners working together across mksm’s three regions and fourteen local authorities, sets out the strategic transport network which is vital to achieving the 225,000 homes and 200,000 jobs planned for the sub region.

Commissioned by the mksm Strategic Transport Board and managed by the executive team, the work received grant funding by the Department for Transport and began in December 2008. The report tested the growth aspirations within the context of the strategic transport network, and highlights pressure points which need addressing urgently. It also looked at mksm’s growth in the context of Department for Transport approach to Delivering a Sustainable Transport System.

Garrett Emerson, Chair of the mksm Strategic Transport Board said:

“This is a major step forward for mksm, and demonstrates the maturity of our partnership working. We now have an agreed clear description of the strategic transport network for mksm, and a much better understanding of where we need to work together in the future. We’ll now work to strengthen the key road and rail networks which link the urban areas in mksm to each other and with the rest of the country, such as the ‘M1 corridor’ and the ‘Northampton Arc’. We’ll also be able to focus on cross-regional opportunities, such as better joining up of inter urban bus links and how best to focus on carbon reduction whilst still achieving substantial growth. Getting these priorities right means mksm will be best placed to achieve its ambitions for long term sustainable growth. ”

The full Inter Urban Transport Strategy is available to download as an exectuve summary or as the full report. Both can be found at: http://www.mksm.org.uk/publications.

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 Notes to Editors:

1.       Milton Keynes South Midlands (mksm) is delivering over 225,000 houses and over 200,000 jobs between 2001 and 2021 and is the UK's largest growth area.

2.       mksm is one of the four major Growth Areas in England designated by government in the 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan. It spans three regions and covers the whole of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, and the Aylesbury Vale District in Buckinghamshire.

3.       mksm is governed by an Inter Regional Board (IRB) chaired by a CLG Minister. The IRB was established in 2004 as a response to the Government proposals set out in the Sustainable Communities Plan, and to deliver the plans set out in the mksm Sub Regional Strategy. IRB brings together national, regional, local government and infrastructure providers to plan sustainable growth for the area. The Board meets three times every year and focuses on key strategic issues, including addressing the barriers to sustainable growth.

4.       The mksm Strategic Transport Board was set up in 2007. Its membership consists of the Leader or portfolio holder for each mksm Transport Authority (the county and unitary authorities) and Board level representation from the three Regional Development Agencies, HCA, and the Local Delivery Vehicles. The Board also includes senior officials from the three Regional Assemblies, the Highways Agency, Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the three Government Offices. Garrett Emerson, is the independent chair.

5.      The remit of the Board is to strengthen sub-regional working and capacity, including identifying and championing strategic transport priorities to support growth as well as performance and risk management.

6.       mksm is supported by a small but dedicated executive team to facilitate and strengthen partnership working across mksm. The team is headed up by Director Hilary Chipping.

For further information:

For further information on the contents of this press notice, please contact the mksm executive team on

Tel:       01604 236697

E Mail: getintouch@mksm.org.uk

            www.mksm.org.uk