Sue Percy CBE, Chief Executive, CIHT said:  

"CIHT welcomes the release of the Labour Party’s manifesto and the announcement of several policies that resonate with the ideas presented in the  CIHT Manifesto, "A Transport Network Fit for all our Futures’."

The Labour Party’s Manifesto explains how the party would strengthen local economies through the regeneration of high streets and through a reform in planning laws; ensure investment in green energy across the country and the upskilling of future workers through apprenticeship opportunities.
Yesterday (12 June) Labour pledged to fund councils to repair up to a million potholes a year in England. The party said it would give "multi-year funding settlements to local leaders”.  

The Labour’s Manifesto outlines the party’s plan for a “Modern Transport Network”: 

• through a 10-year infrastructure strategy, maintain and renew the road network, to ensure it serves drivers, cyclists and other road users, remains safe, and tackles congestion. 
• fix an additional one million potholes across England in each year of the next parliament, funded by deferring the A27 bypass
• support the transition to electric vehicles by accelerating the roll out of charge points, giving certainty to manufacturers by restoring the phase-out date of 2030 for new cars with internal combustion engines
• reforming the railways and bringing them into public ownership, Great British Railways will deliver a unified system that focuses on reliable, affordable, high-quality, and efficient services; along with ensuring safety and accessibility. It will be responsible for investment, day-to-day operational delivery and innovations and improvements for passengers, working with publicly-owned rail operators in Wales and Scotland. 
• reform the bus system through new powers for local leaders to franchise local bus services, and lift the ban on municipal ownership. This will give local communities in England control over routes and schedules.

CIHT welcomes many of these announcements as we have consistently called for government(s) to: 

• Provide clear, long-term aims on how we will use the transport network and support this with long-term transport investments (at least 10–20 years).
• Advocate for real change in the planning system to enshrine the principles of integrated land use and transport planning.
• Support planning rules that encourage place-based solutions, creating attractive built environments and lessen the need to travel.
• Endorse planning that supports and promotes the availability of local services and provides people with real choices and appropriate alternatives to private car use.
• Reaffirm commitments to the role of transport in rapid decarbonisation and demonstrate a clear and credible pathway to net zero take action to address both transport supply and travel demand.
• Work with the transport sector to invest in a wider pool of people from a broader range of backgrounds to support the profession in dealing with the complex societal, environmental and economic challenges we face.
• As a minimum there should be a five-year commitment to funding local roads maintenance and renewal (a local roads investment strategy). This will enable local highway authorities to secure longer-term procurement, address decarbonisation, improve maintenance interventions and make transport networks more resilient.

CIHT will be analysing the emerging policy announcements pre and post the general election. 

For any further information, please contact e: communications@ciht.org.uk