Enroute's Response to the Spending Review Announcement

We welcome the Government’s recommitment to investing £15bn through the Transport for City Regions settlements, honouring the previous Government’s commitments to support transformative tram, bus and active travel projects across our city regions, with power devolved to accountable local mayors to decide on how best to spend that money on local needs. We welcome the continuing support for major rail infrastructure programmes, including East West Rail, Transpennine Route Upgrade and the Midlands Rail Hub. The extension of the £3 bus fare cap to 2027 also helps provide relief and certainty to bus users and operators across the country, continuing to provide a vital cost of living lifeline and helping get people out of their cars and onto buses.

Beyond just funding, the announced overhauls to the Green Book and the wider planning process promise a fairer and more balanced way of assessing the value of transport investment across the country, and closer alignment between transport and land use planning, supporting the Government’s aim of delivering much-needed new housing and ensuring it is connected to high-quality, sustainable transport networks.

We keenly await further announcements to be made as part of the Integrated National Transport Strategy and the 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy. Whilst we recognise the significant commitments announced this week, we will continue to argue for further investment and the redirection of funding and support away from unsustainable modes, from the destructive Lower Thames Crossing to Heathrow’s unnecessary third runway.