New Anglia Transport Board

Rural and Coastal

Meeting Note

9.30am, Thursday 18

March – Teams

In attendance:

Paul Ager Associated British Ports

Kay Bonning Schmitt Suffolk Growth

Suzanne Buck Suffolk County Council

Andrew Chillingsworth GT Railway

David Cumming Norfolk County Council

Paul Davey Hutchison Ports

Jonathan Denby Greater Anglia

Charlotte Farmer Hydrogen East

Ellen Goodwin New Anglia LEP

Andrew Harston Associated British Ports

Alan Kirkdale Highways England

Hayley Mace New Anglia LEP

Paul Martin First Buses

Graeme Mateer Suffolk County Council

Andrew Mower Federation of Small Businesses

Steve Oliver (Chair) New Anglia LEP

Richard Pace Norwich Airport

Richard Perkins Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Cllr Graham Plant Norfolk District’s rep

Jonathan Rudd New Anglia LEP

Cllr Phil Smart Suffolk District’s rep

Chris Soule CLA

Andrew Summers Transport East

Andy Walker Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Laura Waters Transport East

Cllr Martin Wilby Norfolk County Council

Observers:

Lewis Boudville East Suffolk Council

Andrew Urquhart Suffolk NHS

Apologies:

Mark Ash Suffolk County Council

James Bradley Network Rail

Ali Clabburn Liftshare

Richard Goffin Peel Ports

Cllr Andrew Reid Suffolk County Council

Steve Turner Connected Places Catapult

ACTIONS

 David Cumming to update on work with the Connected Places Catapult next time

 Nominations for the Clean Growth Taskforce sought

 Hutchison and the Suffolk CoC to work together as Freeport East develops

 Paul Davey, Steve Oliver and Andrew Summers to work together to develop a

common transport narrative around Freeport East

 Previous sub-group plus others to develop a ‘call to action’ around increasing

confidence in public and shared transport

 All to respond to Laura Waters and Andrew Summers on questions posed and

thoughts on priorities and case studies

 Freeport East to be a standing item on the agenda moving forward

 Ellen to draft response on East-West Rail letter working with Transport East and

others

2. Minutes and matter arising

The previous meeting note was agreed by the Board.

Richard Pace updated the Board on Norwich Airport’s position with respect to covid-19

restrictions and their potential timetable for easing. He stated the roadmap and supporting

budget announcements were welcome but some detail was still needed with respect to

airport passenger duty and support for pent up demand. A devolved administration view

was still needed too. He noted how the Airport had provided critical support for the offshore

energy industry during the pandemic.

David Cumming suggested the Connected Places Catapult action remained but updated the

ongoing work of LAs in delivering the current programme across the area. He also noted a

current Government survey to be responded to

ACTION – update next time

3. Terms of reference review

The Board agreed the terms of reference but did not have a specific view on how it might like

to connect with other parts of the LEP governance. The Board did not nominate a member

of the Transport Board to join the Norfolk and Suffolk Clean Taskforce.

ACTION – contact Ellen if anyone is interested in putting themselves forward

4. Freeport East

Paul Davey gave a presentation on Freeport East outlining the three secure tax zones and

seven customs sites. He gave an update in terms of where each zone was in the planning

process as well as the benefits of the two designations. In summary Freeport East includes

the following:

 Springboard into Europe for UK businesses and inward investors

 275 hectares tax and customs sites

 A green hydrogen hub – supported by Ryse and EDF

 A green energy hub – offshore wind and nuclear power

 Decarbonisation of transport

 Contribution to the PM’s 10 point plan for a Green Industrial Revolution

 Creation of 13,500 jobs plus an investment of over £500m

The governance is yet to be agreed with Government. Once established funding will be

released for set up and business case development. MHCLG and HMT to agree around the

turn of the year when additional funding may be released to drive the Freeport forward.

Legislative changes will be needed for tax benefits. Hutchison will use consents they

already have to advance what they can in the meantime but commercial agreements will

need to be agreed with the relevant landowners.

ACTION – SCoC to work with Hutchison as the Freeport develops

Comments included:

How does Freeport East strengthen the case for F2N/A14 etc.? Links not yet been fully

established but likely to be a useful designation.

Highways England – Route Strategies will take into account Freeport status – RIS3

implications (2025-2030)

Collaborative nature has been key to the bid’s success!

ACTION – develop a common transport narrative between Freeport East, Transport East

and this Board – PD/AS/SO to move forward

5. The opportunity for hydrogen

Charlotte Farmer from Hydrogen East was a guest speaker at the Board. She outlined how

hydrogen compliments other net zero ambitions and a blended transport approach will likely

be needed looking at electrification as well as hydrogen in order to achieve these.

In summary:

 Importance of place-based approach – rural/urban and modal opportunities by place

 Importance of whole system approach – engagement with other energy infrastructure

 Bottom-up analysis – granular data on behaviours and journeys needed

 Opportunities around Bacton, Sizewell and now Freeport East

 Transport applications:

o Cars/vans – electric most likely in the short term

o HGV – biggest opportunity for hydrogen growth

o Buses – most mature development

o Municipal fleet opportunity

o Agriculture opportunity

o Rail – interim decarbonisation strategy from NR – East Coast opportunity

where electrification not viable

o Shipping – huge opportunity – pleased to see Freeport East

 Complexity of refuelling – safety and viability critical – initial network proposed

Comments included:

 Need to link to bus and maritime sector opportunities (including Clean Maritime

Demonstration Competition) as well Hethel Innovation

6. Influencing and Enabling

A47David Cumming outlined the coastal and rural link to the A47 and the latest investment

brochure. He also outlined the importance of collaboration and consistent messaging in

securing funding previously. He stated that there are opportunities for infrastructure funding

in the budget and more likely again in the Comprehensive Spending Review but

announcements on the Roads Investment Strategy have already been made.

Public confidence in public and shared transport

Jonathan Denby outlined the following in terms of potential key messages in this space:

1. Overarching green recovery strand – opportunities for businesses to cut their

commuting emissions through public and shared transport.

2. Good performance and new trains offer commuters reliable and comfortable travel.

3. Visitor economy – opportunities for greener travel as people access

leisure/staycations/events in the short-medium term.

4. Pent up retail demand – opportunity to encourage greener travel choices.

5. Flexible working and changing commuter patterns likely post summer – how do we

plan for that given we don’t know what this looks like yet?

6. Significant opportunities for car sharing moving forward.

7. Active travel can continue to be a bigger part of the mix moving forward.

8. Norfolk and Suffolk Unlimited opportunities for promotion – green travel choices and

travel perceptions etc.

9. Integration critical e.g. park and cycle and other full customer journey experiences –

need to think about personal travel planning.

10. Need to understand national communications to ensure consistency.

ACTION – need to develop a ‘call to action’ and consider who else needs to be involved.

Hayley Mace to take this forward – another meeting to be scheduled.

Greater Anglia is also working with New Anglia LEP to develop a new trains case study.

7. Transport East

Transport Strategy

Andrew Summers updated the Board on the ongoing Transport Strategy development work.

The evidence base is now largely complete and a public consultation is expected in the

summer. The Strategy is due to be endorsed by Government by the end of the year.

Laura Waters has developed the rural workstrand for Transport East. Transport East is

providing the overarching STB role in this regard. Laura outlined the paper provided and

highlighted the importance of the following:

 Place based approach – all rural areas are different

 User centric approach – different demographics

 Access to services, employment and training

ACTION – all to respond to Laura and Andrew on questions posed and any thoughts on

priorities and case studies:

 What activities are organisations already undertaking to support rural mobility? This

could include strategies, plans, and shared learning.

 Do we have examples of successful projects targeted at improving rural mobility in

the region?

 What are the opportunities to most effectively work collectively on rural mobility?

8. AOB

ACTION – Freeport East to be a standing item on the agenda moving forward

MPs – Ipswich/Cambridge and Norwich/Cambridge letter

ACTION – Ellen to progress working with Transport East and others