£17m Funding to Drive Zero Emission Bus Expansion in Plymouth

Plymouth’s bus network is about to get a huge upgrade thanks to a £17 million Government funding boost and a high-profile visit from Roads and Buses Minister Simon Lightwood MP.

The Minister met the Plymouth Enhanced Bus Partnership to see how improvements are already taking shape across the city, from cheaper fares at Coypool Park and Ride to the growing zero-emission fleet at Milehouse depot.

A long-term funding package that changes everything

The visit came just ahead of the Government’s announcement of a £246m South West transport package, including £17,164,290 dedicated to Plymouth. It is a milestone moment. For the first time, councils have the funding certainty to plan years ahead and deliver the upgrades passengers consistently ask for: more frequent, reliable, affordable, safer and greener buses.

This new investment is on top of the £6m already awarded to improve Plymouth’s network. That earlier funding has supported better bus stops, enhanced routes, new services, more Sunday buses and clearer passenger information.

Minister praises Plymouth’s progress

Minister Simon Lightwood said he was impressed by Plymouth’s momentum, highlighting how the city is already making bus travel more attractive. During his tour of Milehouse depot, he saw first-hand how the city’s zero-emission fleet is expanding and how promotions such as Christmas fare deals at Coypool Park and Ride are encouraging more people to make the switch to bus travel.

‘A thriving bus network that connects people to opportunity’

Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, welcomed the long-term commitment:

“Previous funding has really helped the Plymouth Enhanced Bus Partnership respond to our passengers’ priorities through investment in new routes, more services, more buses running on Sundays, new and better bus stops and improved passenger information.

It is getting easier to catch a bus in Plymouth and this new funding will allow us to go further, as a partnership, to help our passengers get the buses they want when they want.”

He added that 89% of Plymouth passengers are satisfied with their journeys, outperforming the national average. This is a strong foundation for future improvements.

What happens next

The Plymouth Enhanced Bus Partnership, a collaboration between the council and local operators, will use the new funding to respond directly to what passengers want most. Future upgrades will follow the city’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, with trials of new ideas aimed at attracting even more people to choose the bus.

With long-term investment finally in place, Plymouth’s bus network is set for its most ambitious transformation yet: cleaner, more reliable and better connected for everyone.