Decision details

Preston City Transport Plan and the Preston City Region Submission to the Transforming Cities Fund

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Purpose:

Consultants were commissioned in 2018 to prepare a Preston City Transport Plan setting out a 20 year vision for movement and connectivity focussing on travel to, from, and within the city centre. The consultant has now issued the Plan which presents a long-term strategy for reducing congestion, providing for better public transport, and transforming the city and the wider sub-region’s streets and spaces.  In support of this, the Plan sets out a programme of proposals to transition the city from a car-dominated network to a multi-modal network.

 

At its meeting on 14 October 2019, the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal Executive received the Plan and agreed to its publication as evidence to inform current and future transport-related planning and investment programming.

 

Its publication is timely, with preparatory work underway for the Local Transport Plan, a review underway of Central Lancashire's Highways and Transport Master Plan, the Local Industrial Strategy, and the Central Lancashire Local Plan Review.

 

Its production also coincides with the bid preparation for Preston City Region under the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.  Preston is one of just 12 shortlisted Transforming Cities Fund city regions nationwide with the prospect of receiving a share of £1.2 billion, to be spent by March 2023, aimed at driving up productivity through improved public and sustainable transport connectivity.  The Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal has provided a strong foundation for the sub-region's proposition to the Transforming Cities Fund, and the delivery of the four major road schemes under the City Deal provides the backdrop, and the means, to deliver meaningful and transformational public and sustainable transport measures across the city and wider sub region. 

 

Work carried out separately for the City Deal including rail and bus scheme development and master planning; the aforementioned City Transport Plan; and a cycling and walking delivery plan; is assisting in preparing the Transforming Cities Fund bid, which is to be submitted to the Department for Transport in November this year.

 

Decision:

The Cabinet approved the recommendation(s) as set out in the report.

 

Contact: Marcus Hudson Email: marcus.hudson@lancashire.gov.uk Tel: 01772 530696.

Date of decision: 07/11/2019

Effective from: 13/11/2019