In 2017 the government announced the creation of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) with the aim of driving up productivity and spreading prosperity through investment in public and sustainable transport in some of the UK's largest city regions. Investing £1.26bn in walking, cycling and public transport, the funding focused on inter-city connectivity, making it quicker and easier for people to get around and access jobs.
After a competitive process, Plymouth was one of twelve cities selected for this fund. Our expression of interest and SOBC business case are below:
In March 2020 we received £51.2m in capital funding from the Transforming Cities Fund. This builds upon the £7.6m awarded in 2019 as part of Tranche 1, bringing in a total of £58.8m in additional external funding to Plymouth's city region.
Our TCF programme focuses upon three key themes:
- transformative infrastructure: delivering a step-change in our sustainable transport offer through improved door-to-door connectivity, providing quality infrastructure that delivers a viable alternative to the private car, and clear information to keep the traveller informed
- innovative technology: encouraging the use of new and innovative technology and new mobility systems to provide cleaner transport, enhanced accessibility to active travel modes and to manage transport demand
- effective behaviour change: integrating transport measures and effectively managing travel demand through the application of policies to discourage commuting by single occupancy car.
The programme provides the right balance of schemes to help the city recover from the impending economic impacts of Coronavirus (COVID-19). The schemes will improve access to work, restart the city's growth agenda, deliver homes, safeguard and create new jobs. It introduces new means of low carbon mobility, improving air quality and reducing the cities overall carbon emissions as a direct response to the city's climate emergency declaration.
The schemes that have secured TCF funding are shown on the map below. Click on the schemes to find out further information.
TCF in numbers
Forecast to deliver an annual increase in how people travel:
- 19000 more walking trips
- 2200 more cycling trips
- 1100 more bus trips
- reducing CO2 emissions by 872000 kg
- 300 new charge points, with a new mobility hub per ward.
TCF jobs:
- TCF award will support 1161 FTE construction jobs with an additional £51.4m GVA generated from FTE wages spent locally.
Plymouth's transport targets: 2030 to 2034:
- double footfall at our stations
- increase annual bus patronage by 50 per cent
- supporting the growth in economic output of Plymouth from £5.2bn to £7.9bn pa
- deliver 2.29m more cycle trips pa.
TCF Programme Board
The Transforming Cities Fund programme is governed by the TCF programme Board, meeting quarterly from 16 September 2020. The Board meets to review progress and provides the approvals necessary for project progression and spend. Further details of the TCF Programme Board can be found on the webpage, including scheme business cases and Value for Money Statements.
TCF Tranche 1 (January 2019)
In March 2019 we were awarded £7.6m to fund sustainable transport initiatives across the city. The funding is being used to deliver:
- better cycling, pedestrian and public transport routes in Plymouth's northern corridor
- upgrading the ticket barriers at Plymouth Station
- installing more charging points for electric vehicles around the city.
A joint bid with Cornwall Council and Saltash Town Council has also been awarded funding for cycling, walking and public transport improvements spanning from the east of the city, through the city centre and then west of the Tamar Bridge to Saltash.
£250,000 is being made available to local businesses to invest in capital schemes which help employees travel sustainably to, from and whilst at work
The Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) scheme aims to upgrade the bus infrastructure on Mayflower Street to take pressure of Royal Parade which currently suffers with queuing at the bus stops.
The installation of multi-modal mobility hubs will provide electric vehicle charge points, e-bikes, car clubs, and information on local transportation for businesses, the general public, communities and visitors.
The Transforming Cities Fund has enabled Plymouth City Council to install three electric boat charge points at the Barbican Landing Stage.
The scheme on Royal Parade between Derry's Cross and St Andrew's Cross aims to increase the capacity for buses and improve the free flowing of public transport
As part of the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), we're looking to to improve sustainable transport links in the city, delivering a transformed provision for walking, cycling and public transport on strategic commuter corridors
The primary aim of the Woolwell to The George scheme is to reduce congestion on a major bottleneck on the northern corridor, which is the primary bus corridor from the north