Local politicians respond as North and East Yorkshire miss out on share of £15bn transport funding.
It has been explained why Hull and East Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire did not receive any money from the Government’s new £15 billion transport funding pot.
This week the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced over £15 billion of transport funding to improve infrastructure in regions across England. The funding was allocated to mayoral authorities across the country and included £2.5 billion for Greater Manchester and £1.5 billion for South Yorkshire.
But as Hull and East Yorkshire is now a mayoral authority following the establishment of the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority, headed by Mayor Luke Campbell, some were dismayed to see that the region was not included in the Chancellor’s announcement.
Amongst these was the Leader of Hull City Council, Cllr Mike Ross, who described the lack of funding for Hull and East Yorkshire as an “utter betrayal.”
Despite this, the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority themselves have confirmed that the funding that was announced by the Chancellor consisted of allocations that had previously been identified by the previous Conservative government following the cancellation of the Northern Leg of HS2 in late 2023.
They say that this explains why, along with York and North Yorkshire and Greater Lincolnshire, the Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority has not received an allocation from this programme as the three authorities were established after the cancellation of the High Speed rail project.
It is expected, however, that the Chancellor will announce further transport funding, including for Hull and East Yorkshire, when the Government’s full Spending Review is presented later this month.
Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire Luke Campbell has said:
“I’ve been talking to government right from the outset since I started and it’s been a positive process. I’m confident as we work through the details to deliver on our Devolution Deal that Hull and East Yorkshire will also receive much-needed new transport investment, particularly after many years of underfunding.”
York and North Yorkshire’s mayor has said he will push for significant transport funding from the Government to address challenges facing the region amid concerns major projects remain in limbo.
Labour Mayor David Skaith was expected to meet with Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander today to discuss funding today ahead of next week’s Spending Review.
York and North Yorkshire did not feature in Rachel Reeves funding announcement but Local Transport Grant funding worth £20m has been earmarked for the region for 2025-6. The grants cover areas outside of city regions.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands the Government is due to set out further details on transport funding, including in next week’s Spending Review.
Mr Skaith said York and North Yorkshire’s transport funding settlement would be decided next week along with areas such as Hull and East Yorkshire and Greater Lincolnshire.
Mr Skaith said the Government must back the region in its ambition to transform the region and deliver for communities.
The mayor said: “I will be speaking to the transport secretary to press the importance of securing a significant, flexible, multi-year settlement on transport that is fit for a region like ours, one that is facing serious and challenging transport issues.”
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