Government unveiled £92 billion in transport investment to unlock growth and transform travel
The UK government announced a record £92 billion investment in more than 50 major road and rail upgrades in England and Wales, pledging to boost economic growth, create tens of thousands of jobs and significantly improve the journey time for commuters and businesses.
Funding is part of the government’s “change plan” and represents the largest commitment to transport infrastructure in a generation. It aims to unlock 42,000 new jobs, support delivery of 39,000 households, and provide faster and more reliable journeys nationwide.
Major road projects include key plans in the northern and central regions. These include improved A66 North Cross-Shina route, M54 at Staffordshire M54 link, and Simist Island Interchange in Greater Manchester – designed to simplify congestion, improve freight logistics, and provide better opportunities for jobs and housing.
On the railway network, major upgrades are also planned. The government has approved passenger service between the long-awaited Portishead and Bristol city centre – reestablishing the community for the first time in more than 60 years.
Three brand new train stations – Wellington and Coolmpton in the southwest, and Haxby near York – will expand the coverage of the railway network to thousands and support access to growth hubs in areas such as Exeter, Leeds and York.
To date, the region’s most ambitious railway plan will receive significant support. It promises faster and more frequent services to more than 50 destinations, increasing capacity in Birmingham, and nearly 13,000 construction jobs.
In the Northeast and Scotland-bound corridors, digital signals will be introduced on the main line of the East Coast, reducing delays by 33% and improving reliability while supporting the creation of nearly 5,000 skilled jobs throughout the supply chain.
These investments are expected to play a crucial role in achieving the UK’s long-term housing and productivity goals. Strengthened connectivity and capacity enhancements are designed to support the government’s commitment to delivering 1.5 million new homes between 2029 and 2029 and stimulate growth outside London and Southeast.
Resonate Group Chief Operating Officer Blake Richmond welcomed this, saying: “Seeing increased investment in UK rail infrastructure, especially in long-term expiration regional upgrades and new links, is expected to bring more people and places to the network.”
He added that the success of these infrastructure projects will be maximized by pairing them with smart, real-time digital systems. “By combining physical upgrades with smart operations technology, we can build a rail network that truly meets the needs of modern connected Britain.”
The latest round of transport investment in the UK is not only a response to current bottlenecks and infrastructure gaps, but also a focus on future actions to increase productivity, cut emissions and upgrade regional opportunities. As implementation begins, the focus will shift to ensuring delivery matches ambitions, especially as regions await the transformative economic and connectivity benefits of the £92 billion plan.
Speaking about the news, John Phillipou, managing director of SME Loans at Paragon Bank and chairman of the Finance and Leasing Association. “The announcement of DFT issued today is promising news for manufacturing and construction SMEs and communities across the UK, providing valuable opportunities to stimulate much-needed new housing, regional growth and job creation.
“As a professional lender that provides financing for thousands of SMEs, many of which rely on liquid transport networks, we have witnessed first-hand how critical connectivity is to regional communities, especially SMEs. These improvements are expected to accelerate and bring opportunities to areas where they need it most.
“A welcome step forward for the UK’s growth and productivity agenda – but of course, the Devil will detail and ensure that SMEs have fair access to contracts and planning processes is crucial to make these plans of change a reality.”
