Essex secures £68m for bus network upgrades

Essex County Council Secures Long-Term Bus Funding

Essex County Council has confirmed it secured long-term government funding. This funding will improve reliability, strengthen connections, and encourage more people to travel by bus.

The funding will also ensure that bus services across the county remain accessible and responsive to community needs.

Comments from Councillor Tom Cunningham

Tom Cunningham, the councillor responsible for highways, infrastructure, and sustainable transport at Essex County Council, stated, “This funding gives us the certainty we need to plan properly for the future of bus services in Essex.”

He added, “It enables us to focus on what matters most to residents: reliable journeys, better connections, and services that support everyday life, while embracing digital innovation to make travel simpler and more seamless.”

Cunningham also mentioned, “This investment will help us build a stronger, more inclusive, and accessible bus network, ensuring better travel experiences for all communities across the county.”

Funding Details

The funding is part of the Government’s new consolidated bus funding framework. This framework combines Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) funding with the Local Authority Bus Service Operator Grant (LA BSOG).

Essex will receive £10,778,248 each year from 2026/27 to 2028/29, totaling more than £32 million in revenue funding.

Additionally, the council will receive £36.26 million in capital funding through the Local Authority Bus Grant between 2026 and 2030.

Current Support for Bus Services

Currently, Essex County Council subsidizes around 15 percent of bus services to support residents in areas without commercial routes.

This funding follows commitments made in the Government’s 2025 Spending Review. This review confirmed that areas outside London will receive more than £1 billion per year in long-term bus funding, including both capital and revenue support for local transport authorities.