£24.3 million Government investment to deliver faster, more reliable travel for millions in the East Midlands

Millions of people across the East Midlands will have greater access to jobs, education and public services thanks to a £24.3 million Government boost, which will be shared with communities outside England’s major cities.

Thanks to the additional resource funding, part of a £104m national uplift, local authorities can now decide how to improve public transport and drive forward schemes that boost growth and matter to their communities. This could include, new zero emission buses, improving accessibility, reducing congestion, and making streets safer with improved lighting and crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Government has now confirmed how much funding each local authority across the country will be receiving under the Local Transport Grant. The funding boost will see a significant uplift for the East Midlands, including £2.7 for Leicestershire, £2m for Leicester City Council and £5.6m for Greater Lincolnshire, which will enable councils to develop detailed plans for local schemes which have the greatest impact in their areas. Funding will also ensure councils can manage the delivery of projects that improve journeys to work, shops, and essential services across towns and rural areas, helping grow local economies to deliver the Plan for Change.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: "Good transport connections are the foundation of thriving communities, which is why we're backing local authorities to transform journeys for millions of people across the East Midlands. 

“This investment will help councils to improve transport for local people - from cleaner buses to safer cycling routes - connecting communities with jobs, education and essential services. By putting resources directly into the hands of local leaders, we're ensuring every part of the country benefits from better transport links that support economic growth and provide opportunity  - all part of our Plan for Change." 

Cllr Geoff Whittle, Assistant City Mayor for Environment and Transport, Leicester City Council, said: “This latest allocation of local transport funding for the next three years is very welcome. It will help provide the funding certainty needed to support plans to maintain and improve the city’s transport network for all users and build on investment made in in recent years.”

Scott Knowles, Chief Executive, East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, said: “Improved infrastructure across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire is desperately needed and something we’ve been calling for, so it’s good to see each of the three cities and counties covered by this investment.  

"We make more goods in the East Midlands than anywhere else and having a fit for purpose transport infrastructure is essential for business growth and high quality job creation to enable our world class businesses to get their goods to their UK and global customers efficiently and cost effectively. I look forward to seeing exactly how funds will be allocated across each part of the region, as it’s important that funding is weighted fairly to fully benefit our members in each county.”

The investment provides unprecedented support for local transport improvements that support the Government's Plan for Change, driving growth and access to opportunity.  

The £104 million resource allocation boost for local authorities across England follows the Government's commitment of £2.2 billion, providing them with multi-year funding certainty to improve transport in their communities.