Improving the accessibility of the UK’s transport network could generate an annual £176.4bn boost to the economy by enabling millions more people to access work, education and essential services, according to new research from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
The engineering body argues that the economic benefits of removing accessibility barriers would far outweigh the estimated cost of delivering major national infrastructure projects, including the full HS2 network with extensions to the North West and Scotland, currently projected to cost between £87.7bn and £102bn.
Published in a new report, Mobility as a Multiplier – Unlocking the Economic Potential of Inclusive Transport, the research suggests that creating a fully inclusive rail network would require investment of between £20bn and £24bn over several years. However, IMechE said the economic returns would begin almost immediately and continue to grow over time.
The findings come as the Department for Transport seeks £700m in savings from road projects, with engineers arguing that accessibility should be viewed as an economic investment rather than a cost.
According to the report, transport barriers are preventing around 2.8 million disabled people from participating fully in the workforce. Nearly half of disabled professionals have turned down employment opportunities because of inaccessible transport.
IMechE estimates that if improved accessibility enabled just half of this potential workforce to enter employment, the UK economy could gain £88.2bn annually.
The report also highlights wider economic consequences beyond employment. It estimates that one in five shopping trips by disabled consumers is abandoned because of transport barriers, costing the retail, leisure and tourism sectors up to £22.3bn every year.
Transport operators could also benefit significantly. The institution estimates that closing the accessibility gap could generate between £10.25bn and £34.17bn in additional annual fare revenue through increased passenger numbers.
Meanwhile, the report argues that improving accessibility could reduce public spending. The UK currently spends up to £7bn annually on specialist transport services, including private taxis, because many mainstream transport options remain inaccessible. Diverting even a proportion of these journeys onto accessible public transport could save between £1bn and £2bn each year.
The NHS is also affected, with missed appointments linked to transport difficulties estimated to cost around £216m annually.
To help unlock these economic benefits, IMechE has outlined a series of recommendations aimed at embedding accessibility into future transport planning and engineering.
These include introducing an Enhanced Capital Allowance offering businesses 130% tax relief on investments in accessible infrastructure, creating a single national real-time transport data platform to improve journey planning and operational decision-making, embedding inclusive design into engineering education and standards, and involving disabled people and other users throughout the design process.
James Partington, Director of Engineering Policy and Impact at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said the UK’s accessibility challenge should be recognised as an economic growth opportunity.
Britain does not have a transport problem. It has a growth problem disguised as a transport problem. Fixing accessibility is not just the right thing to do, it is one of the fastest ways to unlock jobs, boost the economy and futureproof the country.
The prize is enormous. The cost of doing nothing is even bigger.
The report concludes that investing in accessible transport infrastructure would not only improve mobility for millions of people but also strengthen productivity, increase labour market participation, support the UK’s Net Zero ambitions and deliver substantial long-term economic returns.
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