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Transport for growth: Unlocking the potential in our City Regions

Jonathan Spruce

More flexible transport funding is the key to boosting growth in the regions and rebalancing the economy, says Jonathan Spruce.

As we approach the General Election next year, policy makers of all parties are seeking ways to get the best economic, social and environmental return on public money investments. The devolution of transport powers, to stimulate more balanced growth across the UK, is an opportunity at forefront of the debate. 

Quite rightly, the question has now shifted from whether this should happen to how it should happen, and it is time for all political parties to look more seriously at how to pave the way forward and seize this opportunity.

An acceleration of this process is one of the main recommendations from the Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) recent report Transport for Growth: Unlocking the Potential in City Regions.

"There is also no “one size fits all” devolution structure and the pace of reform will vary. It is important therefore that any future Government resists the desire for standardisation and bureaucratic neatness, and is instead guided by the needs, ambition and capacity of each area"

Drawing on 12 months of working with partner organisations and following several roundtable events to compile the report, we firmly believe that the political landscape has changed with Scotland, London - and soon Greater Manchester and Sheffield - showing that locating transport power closer to those it affects can lead to greater focus, investment and better decision making.

The disparity in economic performance between London and many city regions has also resulted in a number of proposals aimed at rebalancing growth.

Our report recommends the creation of fully integrated city region transport authorities with much greater responsibility for road infrastructure, all local public transport, and in some cases influence over national road and rail networks.

It also calls for funding from central Government to be more flexible - with less competitive bidding for one-off funds, less funding allocations rigidly linked to Whitehall led themes and the end of annual allocations of funds. It suggested minimum three year funding settlements, allocated to bespoke city region strategies once developed.

We still believe, however, that city region strategies should derive from, and be underpinned by, an overarching national transport strategy for England to ensure they contribute to national priorities. Our report re-iterates our call to act quickly in creating a national transport strategy for England, complementing updated documents for the devolved nations.

While there are some devolution success stories around the UK, we must understand that many areas are not yet equipped to establish strategies and assume the greater responsibility. 

There is also no “one size fits all” devolution structure and the pace of reform will vary. It is important therefore that any future Government resists the desire for standardisation and bureaucratic neatness, and is instead guided by the needs, ambition and capacity of each area. 

Having supported policy of greater devolution for a number of years, ICE and its members have crucial role to play in ensuring the right skills and capacity exist to make the most of the devolution opportunity.

Jonathan Spruce is vice chair of the ICE's Transport Expert Panel