Ken Skates MS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales
The four Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) representing North Wales, Mid Wales, South East Wales and South West Wales recently submitted their Regional Transport Plans to Welsh Government.
Regional Transport Plans set out policies for the implementation by local transport authorities of Llwybr Newydd (the Wales Transport Strategy) in each region of Wales and policies for the promotion and encouragement of safe, integrated, efficient and economic transport to, from and within the area. I have assessed the plans and agree that they meet the requirement of being consistent with Llwybr Newydd and that the policies in them are adequate for implementation in the CJCs’ respective areas. Each plan contains a range of policies suitable to deliver an accessible, sustainable and efficient transport system in each region, in line with the Sustainable Transport Hierarchy. The plans have been developed in line with the Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015, and each is accompanied by an Integrated Wellbeing Assessment.
All four have now been approved and take effect from the day of approval.
Regional Transport Plans will introduce a more strategic approach to improving transport in each region of Wales, which is better aligned with land-use planning. They will also form a basis for local leaders to have a greater say in decisions about Welsh Government transport funding.
This is a big step forward for greater collaboration across our regions. To support the implementation of RTPs, we are modernising our transport grants to Local Authorities and from April 2026, we will combine several funding streams into a single Regional Transport Fund to help deliver RTPs.
Local Authorities will now be able to come together to make streamlined recommendations about how this future funding is spent, based on their agreed delivery plan for each region. This will ensure that the investment we make in transport is adapted to the needs of each region and informed by those who know the region best. It will also allow us to reduce the administrative burdens local authorities face to access funding.
I know that the Local Authorities are already working together to take these plans forward to delivery, in consultation with CJCs, and I look forward to continuing to work in partnership with all parties.