Rural Communities Must Not Be Left in the Dark on Transport Devolution: Report

As devolved powers expand across England through Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs), there is growing concern that rural communities risk being left in the dark about how transport decisions will affect their daily lives, local economies and long-term prosperity.

A new report, Devolution and Transport, developed by the Rural Policy Group for Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT(UK)), highlights the need for stronger rural representation, freight integration and greater transparency as transport powers transfer to Combined Authorities.

Jonathan Riley CMILT, member of the Rural Policy Group told That's Business: “Transport devolution is not just about governance, it has real-world consequences. 

"In rural areas, limited mobility can restrict access to jobs, education, healthcare and essential services. Poor connectivity contributes to economic stagnation, social isolation and poor mental health. For many rural residents, transport is not a convenience - it is a lifeline.

“Rural communities must not be left in the dark. If we are serious about balanced regional growth, rural voices must be at the table and success must be measured by outcomes in rural areas as well as cities.”

Freight and Cross-Border Coordination

Freight must be central to the debate. Rural roads, rail links, ports and logistics corridors underpin regional and national supply chains. Freight movements are often more nationally networked than passenger journeys, crossing Combined Authority boundaries and borders between the UK nations.

Effective coordination between MCAs - and between the nations - is therefore essential. Without it, there is a risk of fragmentation and reduced reliability across rural networks that support both local communities and urban economies. Combined Authorities must demonstrate how devolved powers will strengthen passenger connectivity and freight resilience across boundaries, not just within them.

Reform Beyond Transport

The report also recognises that transport reform is not happening in isolation. Reorganisations in policing, health and other public services may increase travel distances and uncertainty for rural residents, compounding existing challenges linked to distance and limited public transport.

This reinforces the central message: rural communities face additional pressures and must be actively listened to as reforms take shape.

Key Recommendations

The report calls for:

A clear national strategic ambition for rural areas beyond environmental protection.

Measurement of connectivity, integration and economic impact across mixed urban–rural regions.

Safeguards against urban dominance within larger Combined Authorities.

Retention of expertise from Sub-national Transport Bodies.

Systems thinking to manage cross-boundary corridors and multimodal networks.

Guaranteed baseline access to transport for rural communities and businesses.

Clear public communication on devolved powers and cross-border responsibilities.

Recognition of driver licensing pressures in rural areas - including graduated driving licences in Northern Ireland - and consideration of similar powers in Scotland ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Devolution presents a significant opportunity to improve connectivity and regional productivity. But it will only succeed if rural communities are informed, represented and recognised as central to economic growth — not treated as an afterthought

FACTFILE:

With over 40 years in transport, Jonathan Riley is a respected leader across rail and maritime sectors. After 12 years in management at British Rail, he moved into international consulting, supporting passenger rail franchises in the UK and major change programmes in Portugal, Greece, and Sri Lanka. At the Strategic Rail Authority, he led the 10-year rail freight plan and restructured national freight grants.

During 19 years at Serco, he expanded ferry operations in Scotland and Sweden, led the successful Caledonian Sleeper franchise bid, and procured new rolling stock—driving transformation in vital public transport services.

The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) is the membership organisation for professionals leading supply chain operations for the movement of goods and people. Members of the Institute are involved in the management and design of infrastructure, systems, processes and information flows, and in the creation, management and continuous improvement of effective organisations. The work of our members adds value to people and society and directly impacts the environment, business profitability and economic growth. www.ciltuk.org.uk 

You can download the report here: https://cms.ciltuk.org.uk/media/cdugibig/cilt_expandeddevelopment.pdf