Client
England's Economic Heartlands
Client
England's Economic Heartlands
England's Economic Heartland is a coalition of councils in the Cambridge to Oxford arc. It acts as a promoter of strategic infrastructure and as the region's sub-national transport body. It is focused on addressing barriers to growth, and connecting people and places with opportunities and services, in a way that delivers 'net betterment' in terms of impact on the natural and built environment.
5th Studio was commissioned to produce a series of four 'Future Visions' as part of England's Economic Heartland's Outline Transport Strategy: Framework for Engagement. The images imagined a business as usual and future vision scenario for two rural and two urban environments.
The images explore ways in which the use of technology and transport infrastructure can be used to better connect existing communities and enable new sustainable development. The visions include greenways, on-demand bus routes / shuttle pods and guided busways as ways through which car dependence can be reduced. Ideas about 'First Mile Last Mile' logistics also feature in consolidation centres and autonomous delivery systems. You can read more about the 'Outline Transport Strategy: Framework for Engagement' and comment on the proposals here.
Rural setting - Future Vision
Rural setting - Business as usual
Many smaller communities feel increasingly ‘cut off’ from nearby amenities, and often feel the only transport available to them is by car. Emerging technologies, changed travel demands and increasing pressure on the existing network is enabling new choices for rural communities. So what are the potential solutions, from ‘demand led transport’ to encouraging use of village hubs and active travel?
New Development - Future Vision
New Development - Business as usual
Transport plays a key role in realising new and thriving communities. The design of new homes brings the opportunity for innovation – so how do we ensure we make the most of this opportunity, rather than simply repeating the mistakes of the past.
High Street - Future Vision
High Street - Business as usual
The challenges facing our high streets are well documented. What role can the transport system play in reinvigorating town centres by offering safer, greener and more attractive places for people to enjoy, ensuring high streets remain a central hub for urban communities?
Business Park - Future Vision
Business Park - Business as usual
The default, and sometimes only way of commuting to business parks is often by car, leading to vast areas of space given up for parking. What if we can reduce reliance on commuting by car? And how should we best utilise the space that’s been reclaimed from the car parks?