Transport for the North remains on track to be recognised as England’s first Sub-National Transport Body by the end of 2017.
Becoming a Sub-National Transport Body will mean that Transport for the North can inform vital decisions which are being taken imminently on the next five-year investment programmes for roads and rail.
The unique partnership was formed to transform the North’s transport infrastructure to drive economic growth. It unites civic and business leaders from all areas of Northern England enabling them to speak to central government with one voice on the transport infrastructure needed to rebalance the UK economy.
In March this year, Transport for the North welcomed the Secretary of State’s favourable response to its formal proposal to become a Sub-National Transport Body. Since then the organisation has been working closely with partners through the final stages and expects formal statutory status to be granted before the end of 2017.
Dawn Madin, Transport for the North’s Mobilisation Director said:
“Becoming a Sub-National Transport Body will be a tremendous achievement enabling the North to legally inform transport investment priorities. We will have achieved 56 consents from authorities across the north including all 19 of our constituent authorities.
“Along with our 19 constituent authorities we have welcomed the powers that are contained within our draft regulations, and these are broadly in line with those which were envisioned when the organisation was formed in 2015.
“Our primary function as a statutory body is to develop a long-term transport strategy for the North of England that will help to rebalance the UK economy and drive economic growth in the region. This strategy is being developed in the form of our Strategic Transport Plan, which is the result of all of our Partners from across the region coming together to decide what the North needs over the next 30 years in terms of transport infrastructure investment.
“Becoming a statutory body is vital to ensure the Secretary of State of the day will have a legal obligation to take into account the North’s priorities when making transport infrastructure investment.”
Transport for the North is currently finalising its draft Strategic Transport Plan which will shortly be published for consultation. Evidence suggests that it will help to create close to a million new jobs and help to rebalance the UK’s economy by adding almost £100 billion in GVA.
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