Transport for the North set out £70billion blueprint to transform the North’s economy

PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY TRANSPORT FOR THE NORTH

Transport for the North has today set out an ambitious vision for the future of the North’s economy, unveiling draft proposals for northern infrastructure for the next 30 years.

The Strategic Transport Plan (STP) and the Investment Programme would rebalance decades of underinvestment and transform the lives of people in the North. The STP outlines how up to £70 billion of investment to 2050 could contribute towards an additional £100 billion in economic growth for the North’s economy - creating 850,000 extra jobs.

The STP and Investment Programme mark the first time the North’s civic and business leaders have spoken with one voice on behalf of the North’s 15 million people, laying out a new pipeline of transport interventions.

• The £70 billion pipeline looks to better connect the whole of the North, with a short, medium and long-term plan for investment
• It aims to transform connectivity for people and businesses, and make it easier to move goods to, from and within the North
• The plan makes the case to increase spending on strategic transport by £50 per person in the North each year to 2050
• It includes flagship programmes such as Northern Powerhouse Rail; upgraded and new major roads; enhancements to the existing rail network; and the continued roll out of smart ticketing
• The pan-Northern vision compliments local and regional transport strategies and promotes new, low-carbon ways of travelling

What happens next?

The next stage is for the plans to be considered by Transport for the North’s Board, who will meet on Thursday 7 February in Chester. The Board is a true partnership between the public and private sector, made up of civic leaders – including council leaders and metro mayors – representing 20 Local Transport Authorities alongside the business community.

Subject to approval the plans will be officially launched by Transport for the North on Monday 11 February 2019 in Sheffield at Transport for the North’s Inaugural Conference.

From 11 February onwards, these proposals will become Transport for the North’s statutory advice to Government on what the ongoing priorities are for enhancing sustainable and inclusive connectivity across the North.

Barry White, Chief Executive at Transport for the North, said:

“The Strategic Transport Plan is a hugely important document for the North. It is our vision for a prosperous pan-Northern future and outlines how investment in transport could transform our economy.

“Our Investment Programme outlines how an additional investment of just £50 per person in the North, per year, could play a part in unlocking a £100billion increase in economic activity and create 850,000 new jobs.

“For the people of the North, this will mean more choice over where they live and work, access to higher quality jobs and better connections to friends and families. It will mean our businesses have more opportunity to collaborate, trade and grow in a sustainable way.

“This final Plan will be a statutory document written by the North, for the North, and will be our blueprint to deliver transformational change and leave a legacy for future generations.”

Councillor Judith Blake, West Yorkshire Combined Authority Lead on Transport and TfN Partnership Board representative, said:

“This plan makes the strong case for reversing years of underinvestment in our transport network across the North of England to help rebalance the national economy.

“Northern Powerhouse Rail, serving Bradford, integrated with an upgraded trans-Pennine line, HS2 and local and regional services via a redeveloped Leeds Station will deliver transformational benefits to communities across the region and the wider North.”

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, Chair of the NP11 Board and TfN Partnership Board representative, said:

“The Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review identified improved transport connections as one of the keys to unlocking an additional 850,000 jobs across the North by 2050.

“This plan is a significant step towards meeting that aim and we need to work in partnership across the North, with Government and others to ensure it is delivered as quickly as possible.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Supporting Information

• For any additional enquiries, or for interview requests, please email mediarelations@transportforthenorth.com with the subject line ‘STP interview’ or call 0161 2441450.
• The draft for approval Strategic Transport Plan and Investment Programme will be available at www.transportforthenorth.com/onenorth
• #OneNorth

About Transport for the North

• Transport for the North is a unique partnership, bringing together the North’s twenty local and combined authorities and northern business leaders with Central Government. This body allows the region to speak with one voice on the transport infrastructure investment needed to boost the North’s economy.

• Following approval from Parliament, Transport for the North became England’s first Sub-national Transport Body in April 2018.

• Transport for the North’s local and combined authority partners are:

Blackburn with Darwen Council

Blackpool Council

Cheshire East Council

Cheshire West & Chester Council

City of York Council

Cumbria County Council

East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Hull City Council

Lancashire County Council

Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

North East Combined Authority

North East Lincolnshire Council

North Lincolnshire Council

North of Tyne Combined Authority

North Yorkshire County Council

Sheffield City Region Combined Authority

Tees Valley Combined Authority

Warrington Borough Council

West Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Transport for the North’s Local Enterprise Partnership partners are:

Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership

Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership

Hull and Humber Local Enterprise Partnership

Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership

Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership

North East Local Enterprise Partnership

North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership

Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership

Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership

• In 2016, the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review, commissioned by Transport for the North on behalf of Northern partners, demonstrated how unique capabilities which are present across the North could be harnessed to transform the region, adding almost £97billion to the UK economy and creating up to 850,000 jobs by 2050. Evidence from this review has been used to identify the priorities of the Strategic Transport Plan.

About statutory status

• Once a voluntary partnership, Transport for the North is now a formalised, standalone organisation that acts as a unified and determined voice for the North of England. It has a clear remit to identify and plan investments in transport infrastructure that will deliver unprecedented transformation for the North’s economy.

• Statutory status means the organisations becomes a Statutory Partner to the Department of Transport (DfT) and that recommendations are formally considered by Government when important transport decisions about the North are being taken.

• The statutory powers that have been granted allow Transport for the North to:

• Develop and implement a Strategic Transport Plan
• Act as ‘one voice’ for the North, relaying priorities to the Secretary of State
• Coordinate and deliver smart ticketing systems across the North
• Become a statutory partner in road and rail investment decisions
• Oversee (jointly with DfT) franchised rail services covering Northern and TransPennine Express franchises
• Construct new roads, with the agreement of Government and relevant highway and local authorities
• Decide on capital grants

About the Strategic Transport Plan

• Developing and implementing a Strategic Transport Plan is part of TfN’s statutory powers, which also enable us to speak in ‘one voice’ for the North to outline our strategic transport priorities to the Secretary of State.

• A draft Strategic Transport Plan was published on 16 January 2018.

• An extensive consultation on the draft Strategic Transport Plan took place in 2018.

• The Secretary of State must have regard to proposals contained in the transport strategy that appear to the Secretary of State to further the objective of economic growth in the area of the STB in determining

(a)national policies relating to transport (so far as relevant in relation to such proposals), and

(b)how such policies are to be implemented in relation to the area of the STB.

The Investment Programme

• The Investment Programme is the delivery mechanism for the Strategic Transport Plan and is TfN’s advice for the Secretary of State to consider. It will be reviewed and developed as funding decisions and approvals are progressed.

• The Regional Investment figure per head is specific to spend on strategic transport in the North and to the type of schemes within the Investment Programme. This figure does not include funding allocated to Local Authorities from Government by formula to spend on transport, money for local maintenance, local funding for specific schemes, Transforming Cities Funding or Local Growth Deals.