England's Economic Heartland ensures that the position and priorities of the region are understood by responding to relevant consultations and calls for evidence. In this section you can explore our responses to the key issues that shape our region.
Outlines key transport investment priorities for the EEH region to support economic growth and environmental outcomes. It emphasises maximising the benefits of East West Rail through improved connectivity to stations and wider rail networks , upgrading Ely Junction to boost rail freight and reduce road congestion , and securing stable funding for bus services and mass rapid transit schemes. The submission also calls for targeted investment in strategically important roads and long-term funding certainty for local transport authorities
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Western Gateway Strategic Investment Plan consultation, supporting improved east–west rail connectivity—particularly the proposed Oxford to Bristol service—and highlighting the strategic, economic, and decarbonisation benefits of collaborative transport planning.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the East West Rail non-statutory consultation, emphasising the need for integrated planning, decarbonisation, door-to-door connectivity, freight opportunities, and digital infrastructure to maximise the scheme’s long-term regional and national benefits.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Oxford–Cambridge Arc Spatial Framework Vision Consultation, emphasising the need for strategic transport planning, investment priorities, and collaborative delivery to support sustainable growth across the region.
EEH's response to the emerging Industrial Strategy, which discusses sector strengths, productivity, connectivity, and the importance of research and development, aiming to inform strategic policy decisions.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the draft Rail Reform Bill, advocating for the formal recognition of Sub-national Transport Bodies in legislation to ensure regional priorities are reflected in rail governance, investment, and service delivery.
This document sets out England’s Economic Heartland’s response to proposed rail ticket office closures, emphasising the need for inclusive, accessible, and well-communicated changes that prioritise passenger safety, support, and equitable access to ticketing services.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Strategic Road Network Initial Report consultation, supporting a vision-led, integrated, and decarbonised approach to investment, while emphasising the need for transparency, local collaboration, and alignment with wider transport and environmental goals.
England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the draft National Networks National Policy Statement supports a vision-led, integrated transport approach focused on sustainability, connectivity, and strategic investment across road, rail, and freight infrastructure.
This joint response from England’s Economic Heartland, Transport East, and Transport for the South East outlines concerns over Transport for London’s proposal to withdraw Day Travelcards, highlighting the potential negative impacts on occasional and vulnerable travellers from outside London and advocating for the preservation of integrated, accessible ticketing options.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the ICE consultation on a national transport strategy, advocating for a ‘light touch’ approach that consolidates existing regional and national strategies, supports regional funding allocations, and promotes long-term, integrated, and data-driven transport planning.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s submission to the South East APPG transport inquiry, highlighting strategic priorities for achieving net zero, improving connectivity, enhancing rail and road infrastructure, and advocating for more effective regional funding mechanisms.
This document presents England’s Economic Heartland’s response to Transport for the South East’s Strategic Investment Plan consultation, supporting multi-modal transport solutions and highlighting the need for cross-boundary collaboration, strategic rail and road improvements, and alignment with net zero goals.
This letter from England’s Economic Heartland requests a meeting with Transport for London to discuss concerns about the proposed ULEZ expansion, highlighting potential impacts on neighbouring areas, low-income groups, and the need for better mitigation, communication, and transport alternatives.
EEH response to GBR rail reform consultation, calling for STB recognition, integrated transport planning, and improved accessibility.
England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the ORR consultation on RIS3 advocates for a user-centred, net-zero-aligned approach to road investment, emphasising strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and whole-system thinking across operations, maintenance, and renewals.
This letter from England’s Economic Heartland to the Secretary of State for Transport reaffirms regional support for East West Rail, highlighting its national and local significance for economic growth, decarbonisation, and connectivity, and urging full delivery of the scheme including links to Aylesbury and Cambridge.
This letter from England’s Economic Heartland to the Department for Transport highlights EEH’s leadership on net zero transport, outlining collaborative efforts with local authorities and national partners to deliver place-based decarbonisation strategies and calling for STB representation on the Net Zero Transport Board.
Joint STB response to the Future of Transport regulatory review on zero emission vehicles, focusing on EV infrastructure planning, funding, and inclusive access.
Sets out EEH priorities for the 2021 Spending Review
England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the June 2021 East West Rail consultation strongly supports the project as a transformational infrastructure priority, calling for electrification, digital enablement, integration with local connectivity and freight, and a user-focused, accessible design that maximises environmental and economic benefits across the Oxford–Cambridge corridor and beyond.
England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Government’s call for evidence on rural transport, highlighting the need for improved digital connectivity, inclusive transport solutions, and innovative approaches to rural mobility. It emphasizes the importance of tailored strategies, investment in infrastructure, and the role of Sub-national Transport Bodies in shaping future rural transport policy.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the West Coast Partnership Timetable Consultation, advocating for improved regional and intercity rail connectivity, particularly for Northampton and Watford, and emphasising the need for integrated planning with East West Rail and HS2 to support sustainable growth.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s submission to the Transport Select Committee, advocating for outcome-led infrastructure planning, integrated funding, carbon-focused appraisal, and enhanced regional capacity to accelerate delivery of major transport projects.
This joint submission from England’s seven Sub-national Transport Bodies to the Transport Committee outlines how STBs can support the appraisal and delivery of major transport infrastructure projects through place-based planning, regional funding, decarbonisation strategies, and improved integration across government departments.
This document presents England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Union Connectivity Review, emphasising the strategic importance of cross-border transport links, the transformative potential of East West Rail, and the need for integrated investment to support national economic growth and decarbonisation.
This document presents England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Oxfordshire Growth Board’s Strategic Vision consultation, supporting its principles and highlighting the importance of integrated transport, digital infrastructure, and sustainable development to achieve net zero and inclusive economic growth.
This letter expresses England’s Economic Heartland’s support for the Welland Valley Rail Project, highlighting its strategic value in improving east–west connectivity, enabling modal shift, and supporting regional economic growth and decarbonisation goals.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to Luton Borough Council’s Draft Local Transport Plan, supporting its emphasis on carbon reduction, transport inclusivity, and modal shift, while recommending stronger performance indicators and enhanced collaboration on strategic infrastructure and accessibility improvements.
England’s Economic Heartland supports the timely delivery of Cambridge South Station and its associated infrastructure enhancements, emphasising the need for integration with East West Rail, high-quality local connectivity, and user-focused design to maximise economic and environmental benefits.
England’s Economic Heartland supports the Cambridge Eastern Access proposals as a flexible, sustainable infrastructure strategy aligned with regional transport priorities, and encourages collaboration with the East West Rail Consortium to maximise long-term rail connectivity east of Cambridge.
This document presents England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Planning for the Future White Paper, advocating for streamlined planning processes, integrated strategic infrastructure investment, and alignment with decarbonisation and sustainable growth objectives.
This letter from England’s Economic Heartland urges government support for the Western Rail Link to Heathrow, highlighting its strategic, economic, and environmental benefits, and calling for swift funding to enable delivery and support a green recovery.
England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the “Decarbonising Transport – Setting the Challenge” consultation supports urgent, coordinated action across governance, innovation, modal shift, and infrastructure to achieve net-zero transport emissions by 2050, highlighting the region’s strategic role, and the importance of place-based, digitally enabled solutions.
This joint letter from three Sub-national Transport Bodies expresses strong support for capacity enhancements along the Felixstowe to Nuneaton rail corridor, highlighting key projects at Ely, Haughley, Chippenham, and Leicester as vital to boosting freight and passenger connectivity, economic growth, and decarbonisation.
This letter, from three Sub-national Transport Bodies, advocates for enhancing the Felixstowe to Nuneaton rail corridor, crucial for UK international trade and freight movement. It highlights the need for capacity improvements at key pinch-points like Ely, Haughley, and Leicester, which would not only increase freight capacity but also unlock passenger services and support decarbonisation efforts by shifting goods from road to rail. The proposed upgrades aim to foster economic recovery and growth by improving connectivity across the Midlands, the North, and East Anglia, and avoiding transit through London
England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Future of Transport Regulatory Review, focusing on enabling innovation, improving regulation for emerging transport modes, and supporting inclusive, sustainable mobility across the region.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Milton Keynes Strategy for 2050, supporting its people-focused growth vision and emphasising the importance of integrated transport planning, strategic connectivity, mass rapid transit, and sustainable place-making aligned with regional and national priorities.
This letter expresses England’s Economic Heartland’s support for Buckinghamshire Council’s pilot Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) scheme in High Wycombe, highlighting its potential to address local transport challenges and contribute to regional innovation and sustainable mobility.
England’s Economic Heartland expresses strong support for Buckinghamshire Council’s proposed Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) pilot in Aylesbury Garden Town, viewing it as an innovative, sustainable solution aligned with regional growth and decarbonisation goals.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s conditional support for the proposed expansion of Luton Airport, emphasizing the need for robust and deliverable surface access strategies, alignment with environmental and decarbonisation goals, and ongoing collaboration to ensure the scheme supports regional and national transport priorities.
This document presents England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the ORR’s consultation on holding Highways England to account, advocating for stronger regional collaboration, alignment with decarbonisation goals, and enhanced accountability mechanisms to ensure effective delivery of strategic road investments.
England’s Economic Heartland strongly supports the Aylesbury Garden Town Masterplan as a model for sustainable, inclusive growth and integrated transport planning, highlighting its alignment with regional priorities and offering collaboration to help deliver innovative, place-based infrastructure and connectivity solutions.
England’s Economic Heartland urges East Midlands Railway to revise its December 2020 timetable proposals to maintain direct inter-regional services and improve connectivity for key hubs like Bedford, Luton, and Wellingborough, warning that the current plans risk undermining regional growth, sustainable travel, and public confidence in rail.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to Transport for the South East’s draft Transport Strategy, supporting shared goals around decarbonisation, cross-boundary collaboration, and integrated transport planning to improve connectivity and sustainability.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the West Northamptonshire Strategic Plan Issues Consultation, supporting its place-based vision and emphasis on sustainable transport, infrastructure investment, and inclusive growth aligned with decarbonisation goals.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s support for Transport for the South East’s proposal to become a statutory Sub-national Transport Body, emphasising the importance of cross-boundary collaboration on bus services, rail governance, and integrated transport planning.
England’s Economic Heartland supports the A428 Black Cat to Caxton Gibbet improvement scheme as a regionally significant project aligned with its strategic transport priorities, while urging Highways England to ensure environmental net gain, freight infrastructure, local connectivity, and future-proofing are integral to its design and delivery.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s support for expanding pay-as-you-go rail ticketing, advocating for fairer pricing, improved passenger experience, and integration with transformational infrastructure such as East West Rail.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s conditional support for the Heathrow Airport expansion, emphasising the need for significant investment in sustainable surface access, improved public transport connectivity, and measures to mitigate environmental impacts.
This letter from England’s Economic Heartland to the Secretary of State expresses concern over the planning of the Oxford to Cambridge Expressway, urging a more integrated, strategic approach aligned with environmental goals and existing investments such as East West Rail.
This letter outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s initial submission to the Williams Rail Review, calling for regional representation and advocating for a rail system that supports planned growth, integrates with wider transport networks, and prioritises user needs, freight, and strategic investment.
England’s Economic Heartland supports the Northampton Gateway Rail Freight Interchange in principle, emphasising the need to safeguard future rail capacity, align with strategic transport priorities, and assess cumulative impacts with nearby proposals.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Department for Transport’s WebTAG consultation, advocating for more flexible, user-focused appraisal methods that better reflect strategic planning, future uncertainty, cross-sector benefits, and transformational investment.
This letter from England’s Economic Heartland to the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury calls for a long-term strategic partnership with government to unlock the region’s economic potential, proposing a ministerial task force and a ‘grand bargain’ to coordinate infrastructure investment and support sustainable growth.
This letter from England’s Economic Heartland to the Minister of State for Housing outlines the need for a long-term, collaborative approach to infrastructure investment to support housing and economic growth in the Oxford–Cambridge corridor, proposing a ‘grand bargain’ between government and regional partners.
This letter from England’s Economic Heartland to the Secretary of State raises concerns about East Midlands rail timetable changes, highlighting negative impacts on connectivity, growth, and passenger experience, and calls for greater alignment with regional priorities and the forthcoming East West Rail.
This document presents England’s Economic Heartland’s response to Heathrow’s 2018 expansion consultation, expressing conditional support based on commitments to sustainable transport, improved rail and coach connectivity, and environmental safeguards, while also highlighting the strategic role of Luton Airport and airspace reform.
England’s Economic Heartland’s response supports a unified, outcome-focused approach to developing the Major Road Network, aligned with its regional Transport Strategy.
This joint response from four Sub-national Transport Bodies outlines shared recommendations for the development of England’s Major Road Network, emphasizing collaborative planning, regional funding certainty, user-focused investment, and the strategic role of STBs in shaping and monitoring national infrastructure priorities.
England's Economic Heartland's response to the Great Western rail franchise consultation, focusing on growth, integration, accessibility, and strategic planning.
This document presents England’s Economic Heartland’s response to Milton Keynes’ Mobility Strategy consultation, commending its ambition and alignment with regional priorities while emphasising the importance of integrated transport planning, digital accessibility, and strategic investment to support sustainable growth across the Oxford–Cambridge corridor.
This document outlines England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Strategic Road Network Initial Report, emphasising the need for transformational infrastructure, improved east-west connectivity, and strategic investment in key corridors to support economic growth across the region.
England’s Economic Heartland supports the proposed Old Oak Common stations, highlighting their strategic importance for improving north–south rail connectivity and boosting access to economic and housing growth areas across the Heartland region.
England’s Economic Heartland strongly objects to the proposed East Midlands Rail Franchise plans, citing concerns over reduced connectivity for key growth areas like Bedford, Luton, and Wellingborough, and calls for a revised, more detailed consultation that supports regional growth, improved inter-regional services, and integration with East West Rail and Luton Airport.
England’s Economic Heartland supports the Government’s Aviation Strategy and highlights the strategic importance of improving rail and non-car access to Luton and Heathrow Airports to unlock economic growth, enhance connectivity, and ensure sustainable development across the region.
This document presents England’s Economic Heartland’s response to the Mayor of London’s Draft Transport Strategy, highlighting the need for stronger collaboration on strategic transport priorities, support for key infrastructure proposals, and a call for integrated ticketing and balanced investment across London and its surrounding regions.
England’s Economic Heartland’s formal response to the Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) consultation on the East West Rail Western Section. It outlines strong support for the project, emphasising its strategic importance for regional connectivity, economic growth, and alignment with national infrastructure priorities.