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

"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.

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.