Record levels of northern investment in green transport

Transport Secretary Chris Grayling is celebrating record levels of investment in green transport in the north of the country, but has urged for further progress.

Speaking at the Northern Transport Summit in Manchester, the Transport Secretary is expected to recognise the investment of over £600 million in green transport across the north. However, he will point out that millions in funding is still available through a range of green schemes and will call on local councils, businesses and consumers to take full advantage of this.

£576 million has already been invested across the north-west, north-east, and Yorkshire and the Humber via the Transforming Cities Fund, supporting public and sustainable transport infrastructure, and encouraging an increase in journeys made by low-carbon modes across the region.

However, only two local authorities in the region have bid for funding from the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme in so far this year, despite it being promoted as a key part of the government’s plan to make the UK the best place in the world to own and use an electric vehicle.

Other schemes running include funding for public, home and workplace chargepoints; an e-cargo bike fund to help businesses make cleaner deliveries; and a range of schemes and funding for mayoral combined authorities to test transport innovation.

A further £57 million has been invested this year to expand green infrastructure and vehicles in towns and cities across the north, resulting in the installation of hundreds of new electric taxi chargepoints and over 90 new ultra-low emission buses.

Grayling said: “We’re determined to make our transport greener than ever, and through the Transforming Cities Fund and investment in improving electric vehicle infrastructure, we’re making great strides in achieving that across the region.

“But local authorities and businesses have a key role to play if we want to accelerate the use of low-carbon transport and clean up our air. I urge them to take advantage of the funding available as we move together towards a zero-emission future - and to a Green Northern Powerhouse.”