Communities across the UK will benefit from £840 million to
upgrade public transport links, the Prime Minister has announced
today.
The shortlist of ten city regions marks the next stage of the
£1.7 billion Transforming Cities Fund which under the
government’s modern Industrial Strategy is supporting cities to
make it easier, safer and quicker for people to travel and get to
work by funding improved transport connections.
Local authorities in Derby & Nottingham, Leicester City, the
North East, Norwich, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton,
Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and West Yorkshire will bid for a share
of the funding.
The Transforming Cities Fund is already delivering major
improvements for people across England. Six Mayoral Combined
Authorities have already received a share of £840 million to
deliver schemes such as the Brierley Hill tram lines extension in
the West Midlands and £160 million towards the Beeline Cycle
Network in Greater Manchester. Set to be the largest network of
its kind in the UK, the proposal for 1,000 miles of interlinked
bike and pedestrian lanes will connect communities across its 10
boroughs and help make cycling and walking a safer option for
people living in the region.
Over the next four years, the new allocation of funding will be
used to improve transport links in city regions, linking travel
to work areas, increasing access to jobs and helping ensure that
businesses have the infrastructure they need to thrive.
This funding could go towards upgrades such as new bus routes
between residential areas and major employment hubs, smart
technology aimed at reducing congestion, or rolling out docking
stations for e-bikes.
Prime Minister 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.”
Transport Secretary 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.”
The ten shortlisted city regions will each receive an initial
£50,000 as well as bespoke support from government to co-develop
the strongest cases for investment. Once finalised, funding
decisions will consider the relative strength of each bid and
their impact on improving connectivity, supporting employment and
driving up productivity.
While the city regions finalise proposals, £60 million from the
Fund will be made available over the next year to share across
transport schemes aimed at tackling head on some of the most
pressing challenges faced by communities.
The projects supported by the Transforming Cities Fund will also
help progress the government’s mission to radically improve the
ways in which people, goods and services move around the country
through its Future of Mobility Grand Challenge.
Under this commitment, the UK will become a world leader in
cutting-edge clean technology and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, whilst also making travel safer, improving passenger
journeys and presenting enormous economic opportunities for the
UK.
ENDS
Notes to editors:
Six Combined Mayoral Authorities have already been allocated
funding from the Transforming Cities Fund at the Autumn Budget
2017. These are:
- West Midlands - £250 million
- Greater Manchester - £243 million
- Liverpool - £134 million
- West of England - £80 million
- Cambridge and Peterborough - £74 million
- Tees Valley - £59 million
