Chris Ames 25 November 2020

Spending Review: Sunak recycles money for green transport

The chancellor has used the Spending Review to confirm billions of pounds for public transport, low emission vehicles and active travel, including adding more detail to Boris Johnson’s recent ‘Ten Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution’.

Rishi Sunak said he was providing £120m for zero emission buses in 2021-22 – a specific commitment in the 10 point plan.

The Spending Review document states that ‘in combination with the Department for Transport’s existing commitment to complete the first All Electric Bus Town this financial year, [this] will support delivery of over 800 cleaner, greener, quieter zero emission buses, helping to deliver the Prime Minister’s commitment to 4,000 of these buses’.

The announcement of Britain’s first fully electric bus town in February outlined around £50m for around 200 electric buses, suggesting that the new cash will provide another 600.

Mr Sunak also repeated an announcement by Mr Johnson of a £1.3bn fund to accelerate the rollout of public electric vehicle chargepoints. As Transport Network has noted, at least £500m of this was announced in the March Budget.

The official document states that the Government will ‘invest’ a total of £1.9bn in charging infrastructure and consumer incentives to support the transition to zero-emission vehicles, including £582m for the Plug-in Car, Van, Taxi, and Motorcycle Grant until 2022-23, ‘reducing the sticker price of zero and ultra-low emission vehicles for the consumer’.

A third headline spending commitment from Mr Sunak was for £257m for cycling and walking in 2021-22, which the spending document describes as ‘part of the Prime Minister’s £2bn commitment to cycling and walking across the parliament’.

The pledge of £2bn also included £250m for what were originally emergency active travel measures, of which the remaining £175m was awarded earlier this month, suggesting that the first two years of the parliament will see only a quarter of the cash spent.

For more on this story, visit Transport Network

What’s happening inside the LGPS? image

What’s happening inside the LGPS?

Get the most informed take on the challenges and opportunities that substantial reform will bring at this year’s PLSA Local Authority Conference.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Senior Project Manager (Regeneration)

West Yorkshire Combined Authority
£49,359 to £56,057 per annum (pay award pending) – Grade 9
With ambitious goals ahead, we need dedicated individuals who are ready to make a real impact as part of our expanding Housing team Leeds / Hybrid
Recuriter: West Yorkshire Combined Authority

Information Governance Officer

Essex County Council
£28349.00 - £33351.00 per annum + pension
Information Governance OfficerPermanent, Full Time£28,349 to £33,351 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Information Governance Officer

Essex County Council
£28349.00 - £33351.00 per annum + pension
Information Governance OfficerFixed Term, Full Time£28,349 to £33,351 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

HR Advisor - Pay & Policy (Career Grade)

Wakefield Council
Grade 9 - Grade 10, Career Grade, 24 hours, Permanent
Are you ready to make a difference and shape policies that foster a high performing and inclusive workplace? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council

Leisure Support Assistant

Wakefield Council
£12,013.50 - £12,202.00, Grade 3, 18.5 hours, Permanent
Are You Ready to Make a Difference in Your Community? Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner