Area studies - Transport for the South East

To turn our Transport Strategy from vision to reality, we have worked with partners and stakeholders across the region to determine what the south east’s priority transport schemes, initiatives and policies should be.

A map of the Transport for the South East area

We have completed this work using a series of geographic studies based on the most important economic corridors in our region identified through our Economic Connectivity Study. These corridors connect our biggest towns, cities and international gateways as well as where the greatest opportunities for sustainable economic growth exist.

Each of our studies investigated the issues, challenges and opportunities that were identified in our Transport Strategy, in more detail. They also identified a shortlist of interventions to make life for people, businesses and the environment, better.

Developing our strategic investment plan

The outcomes of our area studies have formed the basis for our Strategic Investment Plan – a blueprint for investment which will be delivered with government and national bodies such as Network Rail and National Highways.

The final Strategic Investment plan was submitted to government in March 2023.

Our Area Studies work formed our Strategic Investment Plan Evidence Base

Outer orbital area study

The outer orbital area encompasses the strategic corridors that follow the coastline from the New

Inner orbital area study

The inner orbital area encompasses the strategic cross-regional routes around the southern outski

South central radial area study

The South Central area encompasses the corridors that share the London-Gatwick corridor in the no

South east radial area study

The South East radial area covers the transport corridors connecting the Channel Tunnel and Port

South west radial area study

The South West radial area incorporates the M4, M3 and A3, as well parts of the Great Western Rai

Working in partnership

Throughout the development of our investment priorities, partnership working remained at the heart of our approach. We made sure to capture invaluable insight and experience from stakeholders across the south east.

Each of our area studies was led by a working group comprising senior officers from the relevant local transport authorities, local enterprise partnerships and other key partners including Network Rail, National Highways and protected landscapes.

These working groups were supported by a stakeholder forum, that brought together a wide range of groups and organisations including transport operators, active travel campaigners, universities, environmental groups, local planning authorities, business groups and many more.

You can find out which organisations were involved on the individual area study’s pages.