Working people will get better access to jobs and opportunities as the Government today confirms £301 million for transport schemes across England and Wales.
Government funding will be used to create direct links between towns and economic hubs including West Yorkshire, King’s Lynn, Leicester, and the Isle of Wight with new road junctions, cycling, walking and bus networks. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said: “We are investing in Britain’s renewal, in what matters to you in the places that you live.
“This latest confirmation will further unlock economic power by delivering the infrastructure needed to grow the economy. This £301 million investment is exactly what our Plan for Change is about – economic growth which connects people to opportunity, creating construction jobs and making it easier to get about."
This includes £48 million for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough, subject to business case approval, to redevelop Peterborough Station with a new entrance, passenger facilities and improved active travel connections. West Yorkshire will receive a total of £42 million for improvements to 14 bus stations, including over 1,000 new bus stops, bus lanes and cycle routes alongside improved access to roundabouts.
Kirklees Council will receive up to £48m, subject to business case approval, for the Penistone Line upgrades work which will partially unlock future ambitions for half hourly services between Huddersfield and Sheffield and deliver improvements to stations along the Penistone Line. In Wales, this confirms funding for Neath Port Talbot Council and Powys Council – including £12 million to reopen Newbridge Bridge and build shared pedestrian and cycle track alongside the carriageway.
The Chancellor allocated this cash during last month's Spending Review, which also saw £15.6 billion for buses, trams and local train infrastructure in England’s city regions through Transport for City Regions (TCR) funding– the biggest ever investment.
The Government is also confirming, subject to business case approval, £28.4 million for Lancashire County Council to develop and deliver Cottam Parkway, a proposed new railway station on the Blackpool and Preston line which will connect homes and businesses on the edge of Preston along with a new housing development being built to the north west of the city. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander (pic) said: “This investment is a step toward building a transport system that serves every corner of England and Wales, especially in areas that have been overlooked for far too long.
"This isn’t just about faster journeys - it’s about unlocking growth, creating new jobs, and laying the groundwork for a more connected country.”
