Government announces £30 million transport funding

The government has today announced that £30 million will be available for transport funding to support the thousands of new homes being built across the country over the coming months, and this could mean many new and improved cycling routes.

The funding, announced by Housing Minister John Healey and Transport Minister Sadiq Khan, completes the second round of community infrastructure funding (CIF) and covers 12 schemes and growth points across the country, nine of which are improved public transport projects or walking and cycling routes, as part of the Government’s commitment to sustainable transport and reducing carbon emissions.

Mr Healey said: "We need to ensure that people and families living in new homes have the transport links they need, whether this is a new road, new bus links or cycle paths. This £30m boost for councils places them at the centre of supporting homes, jobs and growth, which is good news for the local area.

"We are working closely with councils, The Homes and Communities Agency and the Department for Transport to ensure these projects are delivered in time. This work will also create construction jobs, help build new homes we need and make sure we have the transport in place to support development."

Transport minister Sadiq Khan said: "Good transport links are a vital to the success of new housing developments, but is much more than simply getting people from A to B. We need to provide a range of options including provision for cycling, walking and public transport, if communities are truly to grow and thrive.

"I am therefore delighted that a significant proportion of this funding will go towards sustainable transport schemes that not only offer a genuine choice but also make low carbon travel a viable and attractive option."

The twelve schemes are all small to medium-scale transport projects in locations that are committed to building more homes and those that will receive the most funding include Shoreham Harbour Regeneration, North Manchester Metrolink stations, Chiverton Cross junction improvements, and the Tees Valley A19/A66 Network Management Strategy.

The government also confirmed full support for a CIF scheme in Tottenham Hale, which was approved in March subject to conditions.
Construction work is expected to begin in the coming months.