Hertfordshire County Council and Swindon Borough Council are the latest to join England’s Economic Heartland (EEH), the sub-national transport body overseeing the Oxfordshire to Cambridgeshire growth corridor.
Hertfordshire joined the EEH this week and Swindon earlier this month meaning 11 local transport authorities now make up EEH, covering a total population of over 5.1 million with a GVA of more than £143bn.
The emerging sub-national transport body (STB) plays an important role in many transport infrastructure schemes, including economic growth in a corridor reaching from Swindon in the west through Oxfordshire and the South Midlands to Cambridgeshire in the east.
Cllr Martin Tett, chairman of EEH commented on Hertfordshire’s joining: ‘It will further strengthen our ability to join-up strategic infrastructure planning, and to speak with one, powerful voice on the region’s needs – not just in transport, but also wider infrastructure such as broadband and utilities.'
Mr Tett added ‘We have always been clear that the opportunity of the ‘Oxford-Milton Keynes-Cambridge’ corridor extends far beyond those cities, and actually runs from west coast to east coast, and from the borders of north London to the south Midlands.
‘We are always open to hearing from authorities who feel they fit into this wider geography.’
Cllr David Renard, leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: ‘Joining EEH will bring significant economic benefits to Swindon. We are already working closely with other partners within the group to realise the game changing potential of the Oxfordshire to Cambridgeshire growth corridor.’
Swindon council also said by joining the alliance they will be able to ‘raise Swindon’s transport issues and opportunities with national stakeholders with the aim of making the case for securing additional funding that will benefit the borough’.
The National Infrastructure Commission claimed the region’s economy could double or even triple with the right investment, and the Government has made realising this potential a national priority.
Later this year EEH will be publishing emerging proposals for a Transport Strategy for the Heartland.
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