The strategy marks a significant shift toward a transport network designed to be safe, reliable, affordable, and accessible, placing "people, place, and partnership" at its core.

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In a recent interview, Danny Williams, the former civil servant who led the development of the strategy and founding CEO of Active Travel England, described the document as a "direction of travel" for the nation. A central pillar of the strategy is devolution, empowering local and regional leaders to take greater control of their transport infrastructure. However, Williams noted that while the strategy grants more power to regions, it also highlights a growing need for accountability.

The landscape of English transport policy is currently navigating a period of significant political transition, underscored by the recent resignation of Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

This leadership change has brought Andy Burnham to the forefront as a potential successor, a move seen as highly relevant to the "Better Connected" strategy due to his extensive experience with devolution and local leadership. Burnham’s work in Manchester, particularly the development of the Bee Network, serves as a practical blueprint for the kind of integrated, locally-led transport systems the strategy aims to encourage nationwide.

Danny Williams emphasises that the "Better Connected" strategy is explicit in its stance that "devolution is the way to go". The policy marks a departure from traditional centralised control, aiming instead to foster partnerships and collaboration between the Department for Transport (DfT) and regional authorities.

Despite this momentum, the move toward further devolution faces hurdles, particularly regarding accountability and regional disparity. Williams points out that while devolution is a central pillar, it is currently "lined up for some parts of the country and not for others," leaving more than half the country outside these established regimes.

Ultimately, the strategy is viewed as the "start of a conversation" about rebalancing power, with the goal of helping regional "incubators" like Manchester and the West Midlands accelerate their infrastructure plans to a point where people can "see and feel things changing". "There's a lot about power. There's less being talked about accountability at the moment," Williams observed, pointing out the different oversight regimes between established authorities like London and newer regional bodies.

The strategy also addresses critical gaps in the current system, such as the integration of transport with housing development. Williams acknowledged an "inherent disconnect" between transport strategy and local planning, suggesting that the local plan remains the "golden key" to delivering better places.

Regarding accessibility, the strategy aims to improve the experiences of disabled travelers. Williams said that: "In Scotland there's much more evolved thinking there around journeys... the actual segment of the journey within the rail station and the journey essentially from the platform onto the train.

On the issue of climate resilience, Williams admitted the strategy could have been stronger in setting minimum standards for infrastructure defense against extreme weather, such as the record-breaking heatwaves currently affecting the UK.

As the Department for Transport (DfT) moves into the implementation phase, a new team has been established to hold the department accountable for delivering on its commitments over the next 12 to 24 months.

Williams emphasised that the strategy is not a final solution but the "beginning of a slightly different way of working" through collaboration and partnership.

Article updated on 1st July 2026

Danny Williams

Danny Williams is a partner at Strat-edgy LLP, a strategy consultancy that works exclusively with senior leaders in transport, infrastructure, and government. Danny has operated at senior level across government and private sector leadership. He founded and led Active Travel England – a new executive agency – before leading development of the first national transport strategy in two decades at the Department for Transport.