Removing transport accessibility barriers across the UK could deliver a £176.4 billion boost to the economy and generate returns that exceed the projected cost of HS2, according to new research from the
Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
The report, Mobility as a Multiplier – Unlocking the Economic Potential of Inclusive Transport, argues that inaccessible transport networks are costing the UK tens of billions of pounds each year by preventing disabled people from accessing employment, education, healthcare and leisure opportunities.
IMechE's analysis suggests that around £88.2 billion in annual economic growth is being lost because transport barriers restrict access to work for disabled people. The institution estimates that approximately 2.8 million disabled people are effectively excluded from the workforce, at least in part due to transport accessibility issues. Even attributing only half of that lost employment potential directly to transport would result in an annual economic gain of £88.2 billion.
The report highlights that nearly half of disabled professionals have turned down employment opportunities because of transport-related difficulties, with the wider impact extending far beyond the labour market.
According to the findings, one in five shopping trips by disabled consumers is abandoned because of transport barriers, resulting in up to £22.3 billion in lost spending across retail, leisure and tourism sectors each year.
Transport operators are also missing significant commercial opportunities. The report estimates that closing the accessibility gap could generate between £10.25 billion and £34.17 billion in additional annual fare revenue through increased passenger numbers.
Engineers behind the research argue that the costs of improving accessibility would be substantially outweighed by the benefits. The report estimates that creating a fully inclusive rail network would require investment of between £20 billion and £24 billion over a number of years. By comparison, the projected economic gains would begin immediately and continue to accumulate over time.
The institution notes that these benefits could exceed the full projected cost of HS2, including proposed links to the North West and Scotland, currently estimated at between £87.7 billion and £102 billion.
The report also identifies substantial costs currently borne by taxpayers. It suggests the UK spends up to £7 billion annually on specialist transport services, including private taxis, because many mainstream public transport options remain inaccessible. Redirecting even a proportion of these journeys onto inclusive public transport networks could save between £1 billion and £2 billion each year.
Healthcare services are similarly affected. The report cites missed NHS appointments, which cost an estimated £216 million annually, with transport difficulties frequently identified as a contributing factor.
IMechE is calling for a range of measures to accelerate accessibility improvements, including the introduction of enhanced tax incentives for investment in inclusive infrastructure, the development of a national real-time transport accessibility data platform, and the embedding of inclusive design principles into engineering education, standards and professional development.
The report also stresses the importance of involving disabled people and other users in the design process to ensure transport systems better meet real-world needs and avoid costly retrofits in the future.
James Partington, director of engineering policy and impact at IMechE, said: “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 findings come as the Department for Transport seeks savings from road investment programmes, with the engineering institution positioning accessibility improvements as a high-return investment capable of supporting economic growth, increasing public transport usage and advancing wider social and environmental objectives.
The full report can be seen
HERE: