Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has appointed a range of specialists to its Transport Professional Services (TPS) Framework to help deliver the next phase of the Bee Network.

Major players including Arcadis, Stantec, Mott MacDonald and WSP have been appointed to the four-year multidisciplinary framework.

Those appointed will deliver the advisory requirement for TfGM’s ambitious programme of transport-related strategy, infrastructure and service renewals to support the delivery of the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport network by 2030.

TfGM says the Greater Manchester economy is experiencing faster growth compared to the UK as a whole – with transport a key enabler to its current and continued success. Central to that is the Bee Network, its joined-up public transport and active travel network - under local control and accountable to local people.

A £2.5bn allocation as part of the government’s Transport for the City Region’s fund will unlock a wide-ranging programme of capital investment into the Bee Network that will enable continuous improvement to bus and tram services, including new stations, stops and interchanges; bus priority measures; highways maintenance; a world-class walking, wheeling and cycling network and expanded cycle hire.

To deliver on those priorities the TPS framework provides an outline of the types of services required over the coming years.

The awarded consultants will provide professional services across 16 lots. Key areas include project management, design and engineering, transport strategy and legal services to help deliver major projects.

The successful bidders will be critical partners for the next phase of transport innovation in Greater Manchester that will see it become the first area outside London to connect every community with a low-fare, high use fully electric transport network with joined-up bike, bus, tram and train options by the end of the decade.

This pipeline of projects will bring far-reaching Bee Network benefits to communities across Greater Manchester, making travel easier and supporting the delivery of thousands of new homes, skilled jobs and green growth.

Frank Tudor, TfGM’s commercial services director, said: “We’re committed to transforming public transport in Greater Manchester through continuous improvement and development of the Bee Network, to better serve our communities.

“As we work on the growth of rapid transit, our rail ambitions, innovative construction projects and the development of a long-term pipeline of transport schemes, the advisors appointed to the framework will provide expertise to us to continue with the successful track record of delivery that TfGM has earned over the decades as we work to deliver the UK’s first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport network.”

Those appointed to the framework are:

Lot 1 Transport policy, strategy, planning and business cases: WSP UK, Stantec UK, AECOM, Pell Frischmann Consultants, Jacobs UK.

Lot 2 Transport analysis, strategic modelling and economics: AECOM, WSP UK, Arcadis Consulting (UK), Stantec UK, Mott MacDonald.

Lot 3 Commercial and financial advice: Ove Arup and Partners, KPMG, Steer Davies & Gleave, Grant Thornton UK, Ernst & Young.

Lot 4 Quantitative and qualitative research: AECOM, Ipsos, Steer Davies & Gleave, DJS Research, Savanta Group.

Lot 5 Face to face interviewing (fieldwork and tabulation): AECOM, RSK Environment, Savanta Group, BDRC Continental, DJS Research.

Lot 6 Consultation and engagement activity: AECOM, Ipsos, DJS Research, WSP UK, Ove Arup and Partners.

Lot 7 Manual transport data collection: Tracsis Traffic Data, Pluswork, Nationwide Data Collection.

Lot 8 Electronic transport data collection: Tracsis Traffic Data, Citisense, Nationwide Data Collection.

Lot 9 Design and engineering services - fixed track: WSP UK, AECOM, Ove Arup and Partners, Mott MacDonald, Egis UK – Consulting and Engineering.

Lot 10 Design and engineering services - Streets for All: AECOM, Wilde Consultants, Stantec UK, Phil Jones Associates, Steer Davies & Gleave

Lot 11 Design and engineering services – buildings: Pell Frischmann Consultants, Stantec UK, Mott MacDonald, BWB Consulting, Arcadis Consulting (UK).

Lot 12 Project and programme management: Pell Frischmann Consultants, Stantec UK, WSP UK, Gleeds Management Services, Currie & Brown UK.

Lot 13 Project cost and commercial management: Gleeds Management Services, Mace, Turner & Townsend Infrastructure, AtkinsRéalis, WSP UK.

Lot 14 Legal services: Addleshaw Goddard, DLA Piper UK, Weightmans, Ward Hadaway, Pinsent Masons.

Lot 15 Estates: Ardent Management, Bruton Knowles, CBRE, Jones Lang LaSalle, Lambert Smith Hampton Group.

Lot 16 Multi disc: Arcadis Consulting (UK), AtkinsRéalis, Ove Arup and Partners, Pell Frischmann Consultants, WSP UK.