Guidance

Bus Services Act 2017: Enhanced Partnership creation

Information about creating an Enhanced Partnership (EP) for local bus services.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 27 November 2017
• Last updated: 28 January 2022 — See all updates

Documents

The Bus Services Act 2017: Enhanced Partnerships

PDF, 561 KB, 73 pages

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National bus strategy: creating an Enhanced Partnership – example format and structure

PDF, 804 KB, 39 pages

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Details

This guidance states the statutory and non-statutory requirements of establishing an EP.

An EP is an agreement that enables local authorities with operators to set a shared aims with regard to improving bus services.

An EP is one of 3 options available to local authorities when working in partnership with bus operators. Other alternatives are Franchising or Advanced Quality Partnerships.

The agreement choices for authorities are stated in Bus Service Act 2017: new powers and opportunities.

Guidance on registering a local bus service in a EP area was created in September 2019.

For sample wording to present a range of scenarios and outcomes when creating an EP, see National bus strategy: creating an Enhanced Partnership – example format and structure (PDF, 804 KB.

Published 27 November 2017
Last updated 28 January 2022 + show all updates

1. 28 January 2022

   Added National bus strategy: creating an Enhanced Partnership – example format and structure.

2. 1 July 2021

   Revised guidance to reflect the National Bus Strategy and the need to develop and implement Bus Service Improvement Plans (BSIPs). Includes new guidance on how to deliver a BSIP using an Enhanced Partnership.

3. 9 February 2021

   Updated paragraph 5.9 of guidance to better reflect the legislative requirements as set out in the Transport Act 2000.

4. 27 November 2017

   First published.