It would be an understatement to suggest that last year was anything less than a whirlwind for the nation and its most prominent industries. After an early election brought a change of residency at Number 10, a host of new policies have since been rolled out to inject confidence back into the many sectors in need of direction and support.
The government’s feet may be firmly under the table now, but it didn’t take long before its plan to “get Britain moving” again had kicked into action. The announcement of a new Integrated National Transport Strategy (INTS), made by former transport secretary Louise Haigh in November, outlined a commitment to eliminating the fragmentation and inefficiencies often associated with mass transit projects.
In years gone by, transport infrastructure benefits have been considered purely in terms of moving people from A to B. In doing so, other important socio-economic benefits are often overlooked. Be it driving investment into an area, boosting jobs or access to education and health, the incoming INTS suggests that delivering the “right outcomes” is now just as important.
In its development of the INTS, the government has looked to replicate the successes experienced by Dijon, the smallest regional capital in France. Here, I look at why.
