Richmond Council has unveiled an ambitious Transport Strategy 2040, aiming to reshape the borough's transport network over the next two decades. The strategy, developed following extensive public consultation, sets out a long-term vision for environmental and health improvements, social and accessibility enhancements, economic growth, and institutional effectiveness.
The strategy proposes a range of actions, including a new Walking and Cycling Strategy, an Accessibility and Inclusion Plan, and area-based transport plans for neighbourhoods with lower public transport accessibility. It emphasizes a shift towards active travel and improved public transport, with a goal of making walking, cycling, and public transport the backbone of everyday travel by 2040.
Measuring Progress and Funding
To achieve the goal of making walking, cycling, and public transport the backbone of everyday travel by 2040, the Council will develop measurable indicators, establish interim milestones for 2030 and 2035, and publish annual monitoring reports. A formal review will occur every five years, with a significant assessment point in 2030 to gauge tangible changes in infrastructure, accessibility, governance, and public confidence. The Transport Strategy 2040 itself does not detail specific funding mechanisms. However, it outlines a commitment to prioritise essential infrastructure and services in capital and revenue programmes, diversify delivery methods for infrastructure not owned by the council, secure developer and private sector contributions, require new mobility providers to contribute to infrastructure, and advocate for Richmond to receive its fair share of London-wide and national transport funding. An Action Plan, which will be reported to the committee annually, will support the strategy's implementation. The cost of developing the strategy was estimated at up to £10,000 and was met from existing approved revenue budgets.
Key Objectives and Actions
Key objectives include reducing transport-related carbon emissions, improving road safety with a Vision Zero aim to eliminate deaths and serious injuries by 2041, and ensuring equal mobility opportunities for all residents. The success of the Vision Zero aim will be monitored through annual reporting against vision indicators, which will track modal share trends, safety outcomes, air quality performance, accessibility improvements, rail and bus service levels, and infrastructure condition. Any collision hotspots will be reviewed and addressed.
The strategy also commits to improving public transport. Beyond advocating for increased rail frequencies and better bus services, Richmond Council will advocate for the restoration of Hounslow Loop services at all local stations and additional trains to Shepperton. The council will also conduct annual bus network reviews and submit service recommendations to bus providers and Transport for London (TfL). Furthermore, bus priority measures will be implemented to improve bus reliability across the borough. An Accessibility and Inclusion Plan will be produced to outline how roads and public transport will evolve to better serve users, particularly those with limited mobility. The council will also advocate for full step-free access across the borough's railway network by 2040, starting with Kew Gardens, North Sheen, and Hampton Wick.
Walking and Cycling Enhancements
The new Walking and Cycling Strategy will set out plans for delivering a phased walking and cycling network programme, expanding cycle parking provision, and making walking and cycling the preferred choice of travel. It will also focus on enabling active travel to access town centres and high streets. As part of these improvements, tactile paving and dropped kerbs will be incorporated when pavements are renewed, and drainage and safety improvements will be considered during road resurfacing. Lighting upgrades will also be implemented to enhance safety for women, children, and vulnerable users. The council will continue to advocate for or develop business cases for expanded cycle parking at stations and town centres, and for connecting cycle routes to reduce gaps in journeys, making cycling more accessible to a wider range of users.
Addressing Areas with Lower Public Transport Accessibility
For neighbourhoods with lower public transport accessibility, the strategy will implement area-based transport plans. Specifically, Ham, Hampton, Heathfield, and Whitton have been identified as exhibiting some of the lowest Public Transport Accessibility Levels (PTAL) in the borough. For Hampton and Heathfield (including Whitton), dedicated Transport Plans will be prepared. These plans will identify infrastructure constraints, assess walking and cycling connectivity gaps, review bus frequency, reliability, and route structure, explore demand-responsive transport potential, and prioritise investment interventions in line with borough-wide strategy objectives.
Anticipated Challenges
The Transport Strategy 2040 acknowledges significant challenges. Decades of underinvestment in parts of London have resulted in ageing infrastructure and a reliance on sweating assets
rather than renewal. Crucially, the council does not control most of the transport system, with rail services determined by Network Rail and train operators, and bus networks by TfL. Key river crossings and corridors involve national agencies and major landowners. To address this, the council aims to act as an enabler, organiser, persistent advocate, and constructive challenger to regional and national partners. Furthermore, transport budgets face sustained pressure, with reduced TfL grants and constrained public finances. Delivering the strategy will require careful prioritisation, partnership working, and active pursuit of funding opportunities. The strategy itself notes that the first assessment point in 2030 will not be about perfection, and some objectives may prove too ambitious or reliant on cooperation from other public bodies.
