Guidance explaining how local transport authorities in England can: 

• establish a franchising scheme forestablish franchising for bus services in line with the Bus Services Act 2017 and the Bus Services Act 20252017 
• use this mechanism to deliver their transportbus prioritiesservice improvement plans 

This guidance outlinesstates the statutory and non-statutory processes along with the legal process of establishing bus franchising.

The

Updated busguidance franchising- manual

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Any transportauthority authoritieswhich practicalpublished supporta forstatutory eachnotice stageof intent to develop a franchising notice of intent on or after 17 December 2024 should have regard to the December 2024 guidance. 

Any authority which had published a statutory notice of intent to develop a franchising process.assessment before 17 December 2024 should have regard to the March 2024 guidance.

Enhanced partnerships

Bus franchising is one of two options available to local authorities when working in partnership with bus operators. The other alternative is an enhanced partnership arrangement.