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This scheme forms part of a programme of investment through the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), that collectively, helps reduce congestion, improve air quality and help the city prosper by investing in infrastructure to improve public and sustainable transport connectivity on key commuter routes across the city.

Aim

To deliver up to 50 multi-modal Mobility Hubs across Plymouth for business and the public, delivering significant carbon reductions, improved connectivity, business benefits and a sustainable, future-proofed shared transportation system.

Multi-modal Mobility Hubs

A multi-modal Mobility Hub is designed to offer a variety of transport modes and provide connectivity to public transport networks. They are being designed to reduce private car use, improve the surrounding area, meet local needs and to be recognizable across the city. Key components may include:

  • electric vehicle (EV) charging points
  • electric bikes
  • car club vehicles
  • security (lighting, CCTV)

Scheme summary

The current climate, locally, nationally and globally means we require a re-evaluation of how we move, use space and travel. There is an urgent need to improve air quality, reduce carbon emissions, lessen congestion and improve connectivity in a fair and affordable manner. Mobility Hubs will, by tackling these key issues, serve to improve health and wellbeing, strengthen the economy, minimise negative environmental impact, regenerate communities and reduce poverty.

The installation of multi-modal Mobility Hubs will provide electric vehicle charge points, e-bikes, car clubs, and information on local transportation for businesses, the general public, communities and visitors. They will be designed with respect to their compatibility with future mobility technologies, ensuring infrastructure that is compatible with developments such as automotive vehicles, vehicle to grid charging and battery storage.

After the three-year Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) grant period Plymouth will have installed up to 50 multi-modal Mobility Hubs, strategically integrated into the public transport network.

These will consist of 300 bays for electric vehicle charging, 500 e-bikes and a car club. Local residents, employees, businesses and visitors will be able to plan their journeys to use public and shared transportation, both in the city and on the main routes into Devon and Cornwall.

The Mobility Hub network project meets the aims of the TCF through the provision of low carbon shared transportation and new charging infrastructure connecting the region's two TCF corridors, increasing connectivity to key employment markets, education, health and leisure facilities, and services. It aligns with the policies contained within the Department for Transport's Road to Zero Strategy 2018, which specifically details the crucial role of charging facilities in meeting the Strategy's objectives.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report (2018) stated that in order to prevent a global temperature rise of more than 1.5 degrees the world must become zero carbon by 2030. The UK Government has declared a climate emergency, promising to become net zero carbon by 2050. We've declared our own climate emergency with a target of being net zero carbon by 2030, in line with IPCC targets. There is an urgent need to reduce carbon emissions from transportation, which accounts for 27 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK (Department for Transport, 2018). In order to achieve these reductions there must be an urgent move away from fossil fuels to more sustainable, low carbon transportation.

The Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan has ambitions for a minimum of 26,700 new homes and the creation of at least 20,000 new jobs by 2034. This level of development will have a significant impact on Plymouth's transportation systems and carbon emissions. Mobility Hubs will connect existing public transport across Plymouth, providing low carbon mobility for last mile journeys, intercity travel or to areas not covered by public transport.

Further information sources on the technology used within Mobility Hubs:

The Project Initiation Document for this project can be viewed here: 

Economic summary 
Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) 5.24Value for money category: High
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