27.07.12
UK councils to integrate systems through TSB funding
Councils across the UK have been awarded funding in a Technology Strategy Board (TSB) competition to integrate city systems.
The TSB has selected 30 councils to use £50,000 to complete feasibility studies showing how they could integrate their transport, communications and other infrastructure to improve the local economy, increase quality of life and reduce the impact on the environment.
One winner will be selected next January, and will receive £24m to implement their proposal.
The feasibility studies should demonstrate at scale and in use the additional value to be gained through integration. Proposals for the large-scale demonstrator must be submitted by 14th November.
The city and borough councils awarded funding are: Belfast, Birmingham, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Cambridge, Camden, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Dundee, Enfield, Glasgow, Ipswich, Leeds (working with Bradford), Leicester, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Nottingham, Peterborough, Plymouth, Salford, Sheffield, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Swindon and Warrington.
Iain Gray, chief executive of the TSB, said: “We planned originally to fund twenty feasibility studies but because of the number of high quality initial proposals received from councils across the whole country we decided to increase the funding available so that thirty studies could be carried out.
“The results will be made public and we look forward to seeing some exciting future city demonstrator proposals.”
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