How have the STPR2 recommendations been developed?

The STPR2 process follows Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG), an established evidence-based approach to identify problems and opportunities, set transport objectives to address these and generate, sift and appraise options for changes to the transport system.

Participation and engagement with stakeholder groups across the country has been key to informing STPR2 with events and surveys open to the general public at key stages throughout the review. To guide the review in STPR2 regions and support collaborative working, Regional Transport Working Groups have been formed involving local authorities, national park authorities and regional transport partnerships.

Initially, approximately 14,000 collated ideas were reviewed, creating a long-list of 2,800 options. Further collaboration, sifting, consolidation and review led to 1,400 standalone options being grouped into 80 similar types of options for appraisal.

The appraisal criteria considered the Objectives and the five STAG criteria to establish the best performing projects.  The criteria also take into account risks, uncertainties and other factors such as affordability, deliverability and the wider acceptability of options.  These will be important considerations given pressures on public finances.

STPR2 Engagement and Consultation in Numbers

Infographic showing engagement and consultation undertaken for STPR2 - as described in text below
Figure 2 - STPR2 Engagement
  • 20 Regional Option Generation Workshops
  • 10 National Workshops
  • 4 Business Engagement Events
  • 7 Rounds of Regional Transport Working Group Meetings
  • 5 Statutory Impact Assessment Workshops
  • 22 Regional Problems and Opportunities Workshops (300 Organisations Represented)
  • 150 Regional Structured Interviews
  • 600 Individual Stakeholders Engaged
  • 394 Responses to Phase 1 and the National Case for Change Chapter Comments Forms
  • 3,025 Responses to National Survey
  • 655 Pupils Engaged (30 Schools’ Engagement Sessions)
  • 454 Responses to Draft STPR2 Consultation and Associated Impact Assessments

The appraisal process for STPR2 also takes account of government policy priorities. For example:

  • a check has been implemented to ensure that STPR2 recommendations contribute to delivering the National Transport Strategy 2 (NTS2) priority “Takes Climate Action” and wider net zero carbon emission commitments
  • each option considered within STPR2 has been assessed in terms of its position within the NTS2’s Sustainable Travel and Investment Hierarchies. These prioritise:
    • walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport ahead of private car trips
    • reducing the need to travel unsustainably before targeted infrastructure measures.
The sustainable travel hierarchy - as described in text below
Figure 3 - Sustainable Travel and Investment Hierarchies

The sustainable travel hierarchy graphic above shows that priority is given to walking and wheeling, followed by cycling, followed by public transport, followed by taxis and shared transport, followed by private car.

It also shows that priority is given to investment that reduces the need to travel unsustainably, followed by investment in maintaining and safely operating existing assets, followed by investment to make better use of use of existing capacity, followed by investment in targeted infrastructure improvements.

The original scope of STPR2 has also been adapted to consider the COVID-19 pandemic. A Phase 1 report was published in February 2021 focusing on actions that can be taken in the next five years that could help increase sustainable travel and be brought forward to support economic recovery. This final report incorporates and therefore supersedes the Phase 1 recommendations and covers the period from 2022 to 2042. Lasting responses to the COVID-19 pandemic such as increased working from home do, however, create an element of uncertainty with regards to future travel patterns, but also opportunities for increased use of sustainable travel. The review has recognised this uncertainty and has ensured that there is an element of flexibility and agility to allow specific recommendations to be reviewed or amended as travel patterns become clearer.

A statutory Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) ensures the potential impact of transport projects on the environment are considered by STPR2. Impact assessments covering aspects such as equalities, children’s wellbeing and island communities have also been undertaken to determine how STPR2 can have a positive impact on groups in society.

The STPR2 Development Process is summarized as:

  • Scottish Government Policy
    • Various interdependent policies form the basis for
  • National Transport Strategy 2 (NTS2)
    • Incorporates Sustainable Investment and Travel Hierarchies four key priorities and forms the basis for
  • STPR2 purpose
    • Whole of Scotland strategic level transport review which informs
  • Transport Planning Objectives
    • Five key objectives. STPR2 process is based on
  • Scottish Transport Appraisal Guidance (STAG)
    • Evidence-based approach to setting objectives and undertaking appraisal. Extensive consultation informed objectives / options development – Assessment criteria adapted to reflect Scottish Government policy and NTS2
  • STPR2 Phased Recommendations
    • Phase 1: Short to medium-term
    • Phase 2: Medium to long-term
  • Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
    • Plus other impact assessments
  • Consultation (12 weeks)
    • Evaluation of feedback
  • STPR2 Final Report
    • Basis for development of Delivery Plan