01.10.18
Ten UK cities shortlisted for £840m fund to upgrade transport
The 10 city regions shortlisted for a share of the £840m fund to improve transport links and upgrade city public transport have been announced.
Theresa May's shortlist marks the next stage of the £1.7bn Transforming Cities Fund which the government intends to use to finance transport schemes, supporting cities to make it “easier, safer and quicker for people to travel” and “help spread growth beyond London.”
Local authorities in Sheffield, Plymouth, West Yorkshire, Portsmouth, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Derby and Nottingham, Leicester, the North East and Norwich will now share the £840 fund, and have been invited to send off bids for the money.
This funding could go towards upgraded bus route, tram and city-rail links, smart technology aimed at reducing congestion, e-bikes docking stations and employment hubs.
Theresa May said: “Our great cities and their suburbs are home to millions of people and world-beating businesses.
“We want to help them succeed, so as part of our modern Industrial Strategy we will fund £840 million of upgrades for better, safer, faster transport links.
“These improvements to vital infrastructure will help spread growth beyond London and empower local businesses to create more, better-paying jobs – opening up more opportunities to help people get on in life and be rewarded for their hard work.”
These local authorities will receive an initial £50,000 and “bespoke support from government to co-develop the strongest cases for investment,” with ideas and schemes varying between regions.
Six authorities – the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Cambridge and Peterborough, Liverpool, the West of England and Tees Valley – have already received funding as part of the Transforming Cities fund, part of Theresa May’s Industrial Strategy.
Chris Grayling said: “Good bus, cycle and tram routes play a huge role in increasing the vitality and vibrancy of cities.
“These 10 areas now have the chance to transform their transport systems – making it easier for people to get around and enhance links to work, school or shops.”
Sir John Armitt, chairman of the National Infrastructure Commission, welcomed the government plans, but said ministers needed to devolve more powers within local transport.
He said: “The Transforming Cities Fund has been a great first step, and I would now urge Ministers to go further and devolve even greater powers and funding to local leaders.
“That will enable them to devise longer term plans for transport, but also to boost employment opportunities and deliver much needed homes.”
Enjoying PSE? Subscribe here to receive our weekly news updates or click here to receive a copy of the magazine!
Image credit - NurPhoto/SIPA USA/PA Images