The 29 small to medium initiatives funded will create 2,200 jobs and support 40,000 new homes

The government has pledged 拢170m of funding for 29 鈥渟mall to medium鈥� transport projects to help bring forward housing projects. The funding, from the Community Infrastructure Fund, will go towards a variety of schemes across the country, including rapid bus routes, pedestrian and cycle bridges, and improvements to road junctions.

Housing Minister Margaret Beckett and Transport Minister Paul Clark jointly said that the initiatives would create 2,200 jobs and directly support 40,000 new homes to be built over the next decade.

Margaret Beckett said the funding would help to deliver homes and bring down waiting lists: 鈥淲e know that good transport links are vital to successful communities and these projects will unlock the potential for new housing where it is needed.鈥�

The schemes include:

  • New public transport facilities, such as the new South East Hampshire Bus Rapid Transit scheme
  • New road and junction improvements, such as the improvements to the Southgate area of Kings Lynn which will support the development of 900 new homes
  • Innovative transport solutions that will ensure smoother traffic flows and reduced congestion such as the A14 Ramp Metering scheme in Kettering and the Urban Traffic Management Scheme in Aylesbury
  • The Wichestowe Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge which will provide pedestrian access for the development at Wichelstowe to access the town centre in Swindon

The government said over half the schemes announced today by the communities department and the Department for Transport propose sustainable transport solutions such as bus routes, rail improvement or park and ride facilities, with some schemes covering a combination of travel modes.

A further 26 schemes are being invited to submit full business cases for consideration for a further 拢30m from the Community Infrastructure Fund together with any remaining funding from the first round. Decisions will be announced over the summer.  

The cash is part of the 拢1.7bn the communities department is investing across Growth Areas, the Thames Gateway and Growth Points during the current spending period.

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