Major plans also include an extension of the Elizabeth Line well into EssexNaomi Greenaway, LDR and Mel King Content Editor
12:00, 06 Oct 2026
The High Street in Chelmsford, Essex(Image: Matt Lee/EssexLive)
A major new relief road linking Southend and Chelmsford could be investigated under a sweeping transport blueprint that also proposes a link to the Elizabeth Line, slashed speed limits on the A127 and even a river transport scheme.
The draft Southend transport strategy, which sets out transport priorities between 2027 and 2045, describes one of the most ambitious overhauls of Southend’s transport network for decades. It is designed to support future housing and employment growth while tackling congestion, improving public transport and reducing carbon emissions.
Among the most eye-catching proposals is a commitment to assess the feasibility of new strategic transport links, including a potential “outer relief link” between Southend and Chelmsford and a separate northern link aimed at improving connectivity and supporting future growth areas.
The strategy says both projects would be explored in the long term as part of efforts to improve network resilience and reduce pressure on existing routes. According to the strategy, the council will also investigate river transport for commuters, tourists and leisure users.
The long-term proposals have been drawn up against a backdrop of growing pressure on Southend’s roads. It identifies the A127, A13 and a series of key junctions as some of the city’s most congested locations, warning that transport demand will continue to rise as new homes and jobs are delivered over the coming decades.
(Image: Canva/ LDRS)
To address this, council transport planners are proposing a mix of road improvements, public transport investment and active travel schemes
A future rapid transit network is among the headline ambitions. In the short term, the council plans to develop the concept into a detailed scheme proposition before exploring delivery on major corridors linking the city centre with key growth areas, including Fossetts.
Bus services would also receive significant investment. Proposals include new routes linking Southend Airport with the Travel Centre, Chalkwell, Shoebury and Thorpe Bay, alongside bus priority measures, real-time passenger information and new mobility hubs bringing together buses, rail services, cycling facilities and electric vehicle infrastructure.
Rail improvements feature heavily throughout the strategy. The council says it will work with rail partners to explore extending the Elizabeth Line to Southend and delivering a faster rail service linking Southend Victoria, Southend Airport and London.
It also wants to investigate a metro-style service between Benfleet and Shoebury to make rail more attractive for local journeys across south Essex.
Elsewhere, residents could see major investment in walking and cycling infrastructure. Protected cycle routes are proposed between Leigh and Southend city centre, Southend and Shoebury, and Priory Park and London Southend Airport. New walking schemes, quieter traffic streets and improved links to stations and town centres are also included.
The strategy also contains a package of measures aimed at making roads safer. These include expanding 20mph limits, introducing further School Streets, reducing speeds on routes including the A127 and A1159, and delivering targeted highway safety improvements. As a draft strategy, no detailed plans have been provided however the council has launched a consultation with residents on the strategy.
Technology is expected to play a bigger role too. The council wants to introduce smarter traffic controls, improve variable message signs and develop a “digital twin” of the transport network, allowing planners to model traffic flows, assess future growth and test interventions before they are introduced.
Other proposals include the expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, seasonal park-and-ride schemes, freight consolidation centres and the long-term investigation of river transport services for commuters, leisure users and visitors.
The strategy states that transport infrastructure must grow alongside Southend’s ambitions, arguing that new development cannot be accommodated without investment in roads, public transport and wider connectivity.
The document is intended to provide the framework for future funding bids, developer contributions and transport investment across the city until 2045.
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