LOCAL authorities in the North-East have been shortlisted to bid for a share of an £840million fund to upgrade public transport links, the Prime Minister has announced today.

The full shortlist of ten city regions from across England marks the next stage of the £1.7 billion Transforming Cities Fund which under the government’s modern Industrial Strategy is supporting cities to make it easier for people to travel by funding improved transport connections.

The North East Combined Authority - representing communities in County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland - will receive support from government and £50,000 to co-develop proposals for the strongest cases for investment.

Proposals could include schemes to use intelligent transport systems to speed up buses, increase metro capacity or unlock housing sites across the region.

The Transforming Cities Fund has already allocated funding for communities across the North to improve transport links and access to jobs – for example in the Tees Valley where plans are underway for major investment in the local rail network and to redevelop Darlington and Middlesbrough stations.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “A strong North-East economy is essential for our national economic success. With employment up 54,000 and over 18,000 new small businesses since 2010, industry in the North-East is continuing to thrive.

“That’s why through our Northern Powerhouse Strategy, we’re investing in transport, skills, trade and innovation across the whole of the North East to make sure that no community is left behind.

“By investing in the vital infrastructure that connects our communities, the Transforming Cities Fund is another step towards making sure that wherever people live, everyone has the chance to reach their full potential.”

Up to £60million from the fund will be made available over the next year to share across transport schemes aimed at tackling head on some of the challenges faced by communities, while the ten regions finalise their full proposals.

Councillor Nick Forbes, Leader of Newcastle City Council and transport lead for NECA, said: “We face many challenges as we seek to grow our economy through better, more sustainable transport.

“We have ambitious plans based around speeding up journey times into our city and town centres, expanding the reach of Metro and local rail, encouraging more people to walk or cycle on shorter journeys and creating easier, smarter ways to pay for travel.  

"North-East England has made a strong argument for investment that will begin to redress years of funding gap between our region and the London area.”

The North East Combined Authority’s bid for Transforming Cities funding has received widespread backing from the business community, including: North East LEP, CBI, North East Chamber of Commerce, Network Rail, Northern, Stagecoach North East, Newcastle International Airport, Go North East, Port of Tyne, intu Eldon Square, University of Sunderland, Newcastle University, Northumbria University, Northumbrian Water, Persimmon and Sunderland Business Improvement District.