Metro, tram and rail expansions, and improved bus infrastructure will also support more people in Greater Manchester to leave cars at home and punt for low emission travel.
Unveiled by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the mammoth £15billion investment across the North of England and Midlands comes amid a flurry of announcements relating to public transport.
Schemes set to receive funding include an extension of Metro services to link Washington, Sunderland and Newcastle in the North East, and a major update of South Yorkshire’s Supertram system serving the Sheffield-Rotherham conurbation.
Delivering her speech in Greater Manchester today, the decision to release large scale financing has been dubbed ‘critical to driving regional growth’ by Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. The expenditure forms part of a wider £113billion allocated to capital projects in this parliament.
‘It’s great to see the Government investing in the local transport infrastructure that will tangibly improve the lives of millions across our city regions and particularly good to see trams being prioritised in several areas,’ said Ben Plowden, Chief Executive of Campaign for Better Transport. ‘Fast, frequent and reliable public transport is essential to unlocking opportunity and driving inclusive economic growth.’
Other projects will see West Yorkshire Mass Transit finally get off the ground, fully integrating walking, cycling, bus and rail routes through areas local authorities such as Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Calderdale and Kirklees. The Mayor of the West Midlands has been given the go-ahead for a metro extension into Birmingham’s Sports Quarter. And Greater Manchester can improve its Metrolink light rail system – the largest in the UK – with a new extension to Stockport Town Centre and upgrades at Bury and Oldham.
‘The pathway to the strong and consistent growth the UK economy needs has to come through investment in our regions,’ said Jonny Haseldine, Head of Business Environment at the British Chambers of Commerce. ‘That means developing regional infrastructure, including transport projects and grid connectivity, improved rail capacity and electrification of key sections of the network.
‘These projects can then give firms involved in the supply chains real confidence to start planning and investing in their local economies,’ the continued. ‘But it is critical that no corner of the UK gets left behind and regional development works in alignment with national goals.’
Image: Nick Collins/ Unsplash
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