State of the Region Part 1: Connected Contents Foreword Introduction 03 The Industrial and Economic Plan (2019) office in Pontypridd, a Metro ‘strategic Transportation & Infrastructure 04 for Cardiff Capital Region stated that hub’, is an early example of how the Metro improving connectivity is critical in order can help re-balance the regional economy. Housing 12 to move the needle and improve the economic prosperity of our region. We The ten local authorities have agreed to welcome the baseline research set out in prepare a joint Strategic Development this report, which has been undertaken by Plan which will provide a ‘larger than local’ Cardiff University. approach to regional thinking. The new SDP will address housing, employment, To drive economic growth, it is essential waste and regional transport so that the that we improve our Region’s connectivity benefits of growth can be maximised. both internally and externally to key UK and international centres. This will Cardiff Capital Region will work closely improve access to employment for all of with the UK and Welsh Governments the communities within south-east Wales, to further develop, enhance and deliver whilst allowing the seamless and efficient improvements in connectivity – from flow of people and goods. national schemes to active travel. Building infrastructure is, by its nature difficult Improved digital connectivity, both fixed and complex however its delivery is key and mobile, will be mapped out in a to boosting competitiveness, accessing Digital Connectivity Plan. The Region markets and alleviating pinch points. is already a tech hub with a strong track record in data science and cyber- The Joint Cabinet and Economic Growth security, and this illustrates the role that Partnership are both determined to infrastructure plays in enabling innovation respond to this challenge in order that and encouraging investment. we may create an improved business environment and build upon our city The City Deal has, at its core, the South region’s strong reputation for trade, Wales Metro rail upgrade. Some £738 innovation and quality of life. million of the City Deal funding is ring- fenced to help deliver the Valleys Lines Electrification (VLE) programme and wider South Wales Metro. The Metro investment will greatly increase passenger capacity. However, it will also create a backbone for shaping future development in a transit- orientated and sustainable way, as set out by Welsh Government’s emerging National Development Framework. The decision by Transport for Wales to locate its head Chris Sutton Economic Growth Partnership Introduction In its Industrial and Economic Plan, The report is split into three parts. Part the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) made one brings together data on the CCR’s a commitment to invest in analytical connectivity, notably highlighting key capability to provide robust and reliable features of the region’s transport and data on a series of economic, social housing infrastructure. Travel- to- and environmental indicators to better work patterns highlight the strong understand the performance of the interdependencies that exist between the region. This capability is vital to ensure region’s communities which reinforces well informed decisions are taken in the importance of the South Wales the delivery of the plan and to measure Metro, as does the continued evidence progress towards the CCR’s twin of the region’s emphasis upon the car objectives of improving the region’s for commuting. The region’s housing prosperity and tackling inequalities. infrastructure is critically linked to commuting patterns across the region, This report represents a first key step and the analysis here highlights the towards understanding the current sharp divides which characterize the state of the region. Produced with region’s housing market and presents a colleagues here at Cardiff University, it key indicator of the regional challenge in brings together a range of economic, terms of inequality. social and environmental indicators on the region and groups them under the There is more analysis of the state of the key strategic objectives of connectivity, region to come in parts two and three of competitiveness, and resilience. We the report and clearly more work to be have brought together data from a done in using this to further strengthen range of different sources so that it the analytical capability for decision- can be accessed in one place, and we makers in the region. We look forward to have presented the data in a variety of working in partnership with the CCR and different ways in an effort to develop a supporting this endeavour. clear and insightful picture of the region’s prosperity and quality of life. Critically, we have also sought to illuminate the differences that exist between the region’s constituent communities, as well as to identify longer-term patterns and trends in the region’s development. This provides a basis for benchmarking and monitoring the impact of the CCR’s investments and serves as a valuable independent health check for all key decision-makers and stakeholders in the region. Professor Gill Bristow Cardiff University Traffic volumes per billion vehicle Volume of traffic per billion vehicle kilometres (2014 & 2017)1 01. kilometres have moderately increased in most authorities between 2014 and 2017, 2014 2017 Transportation & with the largest increase occurring in Infrastructure Newport from 1.861 to 1.949. 3 There are several identifiable commuting 2.25 areas within the city region, focused on a number of urban centres. 1.5 The commuter belt to Cardiff city centre stretches across South Wales and to 0.75 Bristol. While diverse, it is predominately composed of persons with a higher than 0 average propensity to travel to work by bus, train, bike and on foot, those who work in consumer services, as well as Cardiff Torfaen public administration, defence, taxation Bridgend Newport and social security fields. Caerphilly Merthyr Tydfil Blaenau Gwent Monmouthshire Vale of Glamorgan Rhondda Cynon Taf Footnotes 1 Welsh Government: Volume of traffic per billion vehicle kilometres, 2014 and 2017 2 Commute-flow typology developed by 2 Manchester Urban Institute, University of Dominant commuting types to Cardiff city centre (2011) based on www.commute-flow.net classification Manchester using Census of population 2011 data: Open Government License - http://www.commute-flow.net Techs and the City Types 3 ONS: Census of population, 2011 Consumer Services Sustainable Sorts Supporting Society Friendly Faces The Nurturers Traders, Movers & Makers High Flyers Connected Cardiff Capital Region Capital Cardiff 1: Part of the Region State 4 — Commuting flows (net origin-destination) (2011)3 Number of Commuters: 10 - 50 51 - 100 101 - 200 201 - 500 501 - 4998 Active Travel routes and designated 01. localities are emerging throughout the towns Transportation & and cities of the Cardiff Capital Region. Rail passenger journeys have increased in Infrastructure all authorities from 2014/15 and 2017/18 except for in Merthyr Tydfil where there has been a -12.7% decline. This compares to a 18.9% increase in Newport. Despite the increases in rail travel, the dominant mode of transport to work in the city region was the car with over 70% of residents in half of the authorities choosing to drive to work in 2011. The top three busiest stations in Wales are in the Cardiff Capital Region, as well as 15 of the top 20. Method of travel to work, all usual residents aged 16 to 74 (2011)4 Footnotes 4 ONS: Census of population, 2011 5 Welsh Government: Rail Transport, 2014/15 Blaenau Gwent and 2017/18 6 Welsh Government: Rail Station Usage, Bridgend 2014/15 and 2017/18 7 Welsh Government: Geography and Technology, Open Government Licence,. Caerphilly All maps contain National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right 2012 Cardiff & contain Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2012 Merthyr Tydfil Monmouthshire Newport Rhondda Cynon Taf Connected Vale of Glamorgan Torfaen 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Work mainly at or from home Motorcycle, scooter or moped On foot Train Driving a car or van Other method of travel to work Cardiff Capital Region Capital Cardiff 1: Part of the Region State Bus, minibus or coach Passenger in a car or van 6 — Taxi Bicycle 20 busiest stations in Wales by station entries/exits (2014-2015 & 2017-2018)5 Percentage change in rail passenger journeys (2014/15-2017/18)6 2014-15 2017-18 **Cardiff Capital Region Station 14m +15.6% +2.6% +5.8% +12.3% -12.7% Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Caerphilly Cardi Merthyr Tyd l 10.5m +12.5% +18.9% +5.1% +11.0% +18.9% Monmouthshire Newport Rhondda Torfaen Vale of Cynon Taf Glamorgan Active Travel routes and designated localities7 7m 3.5m 0 Rhyl Neath RadyrBarry BangorPenarth ** ** NewportSwanseaBridgend Cathays Treforest Active Travel Approved Routes ** Caerphilly ** Aberdare ** ** Cardiff BayPontypridd Barry Island** ** ** ** ** Cardiff Central ** Merthyr Tydfil Active Travel Designated Localities ** ** Cardiff Queen Street Port Talbot Parkway ** Cardiff Airport has a much higher mix of 01. scheduled to chartered flights than most other major airports in the UK. Scheduled Transportation & flights are often used as an indicator of business travel use. There has however Infrastructure been an improvement in the percentage MORE THAN of scheduled Cardiff Airport flights, from only 76% in 2015 to 81% in 2017. 300k Following declining numbers between more passengers on scheduled flights from 2005 and 2015, Cardiff