British cities should have greater control over transport planning, funding and infrastructure delivery to accelerate new projects and improve connectivity, according to a report from Centre for Cities.
License to Build: Delivering Urban Transport Infrastructure Through Devolution examines how further devolution could support economic growth and help urban areas deliver mass-transit schemes more efficiently.
Britain trails European delivery
The report compares transport development in Britain and France. Since 2010, France has added approximately 420 kilometres of tram and light rail infrastructure, while Britain’s existing networks cover around 350 kilometres.
Leeds is cited as an example of the barriers facing UK cities. It has made 11 unsuccessful bids for a tram or trolleybus network over almost four decades. More recent proposals for bus rapid transit and a West Yorkshire metro have also failed to secure government approval.
Centre for Cities identifies four priorities for reform: stronger mayoral powers, a more predictable planning system, greater financial independence and increased capacity within mayoral strategic authorities.
Planning and funding reforms
The report says uncertainty in planning and approval processes can delay schemes and increase costs. The Transport and Works Act order application for the West Midlands Metro extension to Birmingham Eastside took three years and ran to 6,000 pages, excluding supplementary documents.
Greater Manchester’s Metrolink extension to Trafford Park also took two years to secure government approval, according to the report.
By contrast, France’s national tram design guidelines and established project pipeline are presented as ways for local authorities to avoid repeatedly developing schemes from scratch. The report also points to national cost and pricing schedules and delivery guidance used in Italy and Germany.
On finance, Centre for Cities recommends giving mayors more scope to raise and retain revenue for transport investment. It proposes allowing them to borrow against locally retained tax revenues, including business rates, while retaining national safeguards on borrowing.
The report also calls for closer cooperation with the National Wealth Fund, including reform of its lending facility so that mayors can access terms more comparable with those available to private borrowers.
Support for mayoral authorities
Other recommendations include extending funding through the Mayoral Capacity Fund until 2028/29, alongside national light rail design standards and guidance on alternative infrastructure delivery models.
Centre for Cities argues that stronger local control over planning, funding and delivery could help cities bring forward transport projects more quickly, improve passenger and business connections and unlock wider economic potential.