Revealed: North West set to receive £1,574 less per person than London on transport

New analysis of the government’s planned transport spending shows that, unless investment in the Northern Powerhouse goes ahead, London is set to receive almost twice as much more per person than the North West.

IPPR North has published a new independent analysis of regional transport spending in England, setting out the true extent of underfunding in Northern transport infrastructure both in the past, and under government’s current plans for the future.

Examining the government’s own figures, leading think-tank IPPR North found that planned transport spending on the North West is set to be £2,062 per person, whilst the capital will receive £3,636 per person.

Meanwhile, analysis of past transport spending shows that if the North had seen the same per person investment as London over the last decade, it would have received £66 billion more.

The report shows a comprehensive picture of planned spending included in the most recent edition of the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline – a list of the government’s planned infrastructure projects between now and 2033.

This does not include Northern Powerhouse Rail or recent overspend on Crossrail, which were not included in the pipeline.

 

 

Report author Luke Raikes has called on the new Prime Minister to “turn years of Northern Powerhouse rhetoric into reality” by taking urgent action to invest in the North and devolve powers to Northern leaders and Transport for the North.

IPPR North has also recommended that Phase 2 of HS2 must begin in the North so that Northern Powerhouse Rail can be accelerated using its infrastructure.

Luke Raikes, Senior Research Fellow at IPPR North, said: “These figures show that the prime minister must urgently follow through on his promises to invest in northern transport infrastructure and devolve power to the North’s leaders.

“The Northern Powerhouse agenda could benefit people across the whole country. Northern transport infrastructure is a national priority.

“The upcoming spending review offers a real opportunity for the government to turn years of Northern Powerhouse rhetoric into reality, and to finally deliver on promises made to the North.”

Barry White, Chief Executive at Transport for the North, said: “The effects of decades of underinvestment in the North are there for all to see in our creaking infrastructure and lack of connectivity, validating Northern leaders’ recent call for a Northern Budget.

“For too long the North has been at the back of the queue for investment, and our Members are clear that this underfunding of our region must be addressed within the upcoming Spending Round and in the longer-term investment plans that the Government sets out.

“Transport for the North’s Northern Infrastructure Pipeline of road and rail schemes will help make up this gap while also helping to rebalance the UK economy and support our people and businesses in reaching their potential. 

“We remain clear that now is the time to invest in the North and grow the Northern Powerhouse with a Northern Budget for the benefit of the whole country.”

Elisabeth Tasker, Stagecoach Manchester managing director, said: “Greater Manchester is one of the most important regions in the country and there is no question it deserves a fair share of funding for transport. In fact, most of the cuts to Manchester's bus network in the past few years has been the direct result of public sector funding cuts. 

"But government transport funding is not free money: it comes from taxpayers and it is critical funding delivers value for money. The reality is that the bus franchise plans being considered by the Combined Authority will unnecessarily cost tens of millions of pounds, and will not address the biggest challenges holding back buses, such as worsening road congestion. 

"The Mayor's objective of delivering an even better and more integrated bus network can be delivered right now, without any cost to taxpayers, as part of bus operators' £100m blueprint. It will build on the £100m investment and improvements already put into the network over the past decade by Stagecoach alone, which has delivered customer satisfaction of 90%, amongst the best in the country."