# The Bus Franchising Assessment (Approved Persons) (England) Regulations 2026

S.I. 2026/1145 · made 29 October 2026

These Regulations specify types of persons as an approved person for the purposes of section 123D of and paragraph 4(7) of Schedule 9A to the Transport Act 2000 (c. 38). Section 123D of that Act provides that an independent approved person must prepare a report on the assessment of a proposed franchising scheme before a franchising authority or authorities can proceed with the scheme. Paragraph 4 of Schedule 9A provides that an independent approved person must prepare a report on the assessment of a proposed variation of a franchising scheme before a franchising authority or authorities can proceed with the variation.

Made under: Transport Act 2000 (Section 123D, Schedule 9A paragraph 4, Schedule 9A, Contents)

PDFs: Printed copy https://openlegislation.uk/bus-franchising-assessment-approved-persons-england-regulations-2026/pdf/uksi_20261145_en.pdf; UK Explanatory Memorandum https://openlegislation.uk/bus-franchising-assessment-approved-persons-england-regulations-2026/pdf/uksiem_20261145_en_001.pdf

## Introductory text

PUBLIC PASSENGER TRANSPORT, ENGLAND
Made 29th October 2026
Laid before Parliament 3rd November 2026
Coming into force 24th November 2026
The Secretary of State makes these Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by section 123D (8) of and paragraph 4 (7) of Schedule 9A to the Transport Act 2000.

## 1 Citation, commencement, extent and application

(1) These Regulations may be cited as the Bus Franchising Assessment (Approved Persons) (England) Regulations 2026.
(2) These Regulations come into force on 24th November 2026.
(3) These Regulations extend to England and Wales.
(4) These Regulations apply in relation to England only.

## 2 Approved person

(1) A person is specified as an approved person for the purposes of section 123D of and paragraph 4 (7) of Schedule 9A to the Transport Act 2000 if that person is either—
(a) an accountant, auditor or senior transport professional, or
(b) the employer of a person mentioned in sub-paragraph (a).
(2) In this regulation—
“accountant” means a member of—
(a) the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants,
(b) the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland,
(c) the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales,
(d) the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, or
(e) the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants;
“auditor” means a person eligible for appointment as a local auditor by virtue of Chapter 2 of Part 42 of the Companies Act 2006 as modified by Schedule 5 to the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014;
“senior transport professional” means a person who—
(a) holds or has held a position with responsibility for the strategic leadership or oversight of the design, delivery or analysis of transport policy, projects or systems,
(b) has experience in the management of multi-disciplinary or multi-stakeholder projects relating to the transport sector, and
(c) in the course of a business or profession, or in the exercise of a function of a public nature, is or has been responsible for—
(i) the preparation of reports which set out findings and recommendations, and
(ii) the financial appraisal of transport policy, projects or systems.

## Signature

Signed by authority of the Secretary of State for Transport
Simon Lightwood
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State
Department for Transport
29th October 2026

## Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations specify types of persons as an approved person for the purposes of section 123D of and paragraph 4(7) of Schedule 9A to the Transport Act 2000 (c. 38). Section 123D of that Act provides that an independent approved person must prepare a report on the assessment of a proposed franchising scheme before a franchising authority or authorities can proceed with the scheme. Paragraph 4 of Schedule 9A provides that an independent approved person must prepare a report on the assessment of a proposed variation of a franchising scheme before a franchising authority or authorities can proceed with the variation.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2026/1145 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/bus-franchising-assessment-approved-persons-england-regulations-2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.