Greater Manchester to receive over £1 billion funding for transport infrastructure

The Department of Transport (DfT) has granted Greater Manchester £1.07 billion funding over the next five years to deliver sustainable transport improvements across the city-region.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed in a letter to the city-region leaders that Greater Manchester would receive the full amount asked for by the city-region in City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements (CRSTS) funding. The city-region had put forward a business case to the DfT for a range of proposals that aim to drive growth through infrastructure investment, improve services, and promote a shift from cars to public transport, walking and cycling.

Plans to be funded by the CRSTS include enabling the Metrolink to integrate with HS2 stations at Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport stations. The scheme also replaces separate smaller government grants for road repairs and other small-scale transport infrastructure work.

While Greater Manchester has been given approval to move forward with the majority of plans put forward in its business case without further approval from the DfT, the Transport Secretary confirmed that plans for a new railway crossing for Greek Street in Stockport town centre would be subject to sign-off from Westminster.

Plans put forward by Stockport Council for a new railway bridge aim to improve walking and cycling links between Edgeley and the town centre, as well as incorporating potential for any future Metrolink extension of the East Didsbury line into Stockport to access Stockport Railway Station. A business case for a Metrolink extension from Didsbury to Stockport town centre is in development; plans for a tram service to run on the Stockport to Stalybridge railway line are also under consideration.

In addition to the over £1 billion provided through CRSTS, Greater Manchester has also been awarded a share of £150 million to deliver its Bus Service Improvement Plan to maintain service levels as public transport use recovers following the pandemic without the need to increase passenger fares. The Metrolink tram network has also been awarded a £20.5 million settlement to help secure its finances following the pandemic.

This latest investment announcement follows last week’s news that TfGM would receive £35.8 million to rollout more electric buses across the city-region.