Plymouth City Council has been awarded just over £4.5 million from a £1 billion government funding boost for bus services across England.
Key Takeaways:
- Significant Funding Secured: Plymouth City Council has received over £4.5 million from a £1 billion national funding boost for bus services, adding to previous allocations of £1.6 million for the BSIP Phase 2 fund and £10.3 million for zero-emission buses.
- Positive Impacts on Bus Services: The funding has already led to more frequent and accessible bus routes, upgrades to infrastructure like bus stops, and improved security at park-and-ride facilities, contributing to better connectivity for healthcare, leisure, and businesses.
- Commitment to Sustainable and Reliable Transport: This investment aligns with Plymouth’s vision for a clean, safe, and accessible bus network, supporting the city’s net zero goals and driving increased passenger use through the BSIP’s nine key priorities.
The funding, which is for 2025 to 2026, is in addition to the £1.6 million previously awarded to the council from the Department for Transport’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) Phase 2 fund and the £10.3m we have been awarded to deliver zero emission buses in the city.
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So far, the BSIP funding has been used to provide more frequent buses both during the day and evening, as well as new direct links to businesses, healthcare and leisure activities, such as the rerouting of the service 1A to include the new Royal Eye Infirmary, the summer service 54 to Bovisand and the reinstatement of 30/31 services in Hartley Vale, Mannamead and Peverell.
It has also been used to produce a citywide, multi-operator public transport map; clean and upgrade bus stops, install new timetable cases and refresh bay markings; and improve security and signage at Coypool park and ride.
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Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport said: “We are fully committed to improving Plymouth’s bus services and this is a massive boost for providing the network passengers want and deserve.
“Investment in our buses is vital in achieving the vision of the city’s BSIP to connect everyone to important people and places, by services that are frequent, reliable, fast, affordable, safe and clean. This will also help Plymouth achieve its net zero goals by 2030.”
Councillor Kevin Sproston, Plymouth’s Bus Champion, added:
“This additional funding for Plymouth’s bus services is great news.
“We and local operators are working closely together through the bus partnership to deliver the services the city needs and we’re seeing the results, with passenger numbers continuing to rise. This investment will help us build on the impact our BSIP has had so far.”
The council is now developing a programme for the funding that delivers against the nine passenger priorities in the city’s BSIP: services that are frequent; reliable and fast; affordable; direct and connected; accessible; safe; simple and understandable; modern and clean.
More information on the city’s BSIP can be found at
www.plymouth.gov.uk/bus-improvements
