Department for Transport announces investment in Northern green transport

An investment of over £600M has been announced to provide low-carbon green transport for the North to fight transport emissions.

The investment will increase green transport infrastructure in the region and encourage people to use electric and hybrid cars. The money will also go towards low-carbon public transport and cycling routes.

The funding will provide around 100 low-carbon buses, charge points for electric bikes, and an e-cargo bike fund to encourage businesses to use greener vehicles for deliveries. Councils and businesses are encouraged to apply for funding to add to the money already invested by the government.

Chris Grayling, Transport Secretary, said: “We’re determined to make our transport greener than ever, and through the Transforming Cities Fund and investment in improving electric vehicle infrastructure, we’re making great strides in achieving that across the region.”

“But local authorities and businesses have a key role to play if we want to accelerate the use of low-carbon transport and clean up our air. I urge them to take advantage of the funding available as we move together towards a zero-emission future – and to a Green Northern Powerhouse.”

The Transforming Cities fund has already invested £576M across the North, which has gone towards electric taxi charge points and ultra-low-carbon buses. It is hoped the fund will address air quality in cities and encourage the use of electric vehicles.

Funding is available for environmentally sound transport schemes including:

• on-street residential ChargePoint Scheme (£2.5M)
• Future Mobility Zones Fund (£70M)
• e-cargo bike grant fund (£2M)
• Workplace Charging Scheme (£500 per ChargePoint socket and £10,000 per business)
• Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (£500 per ChargePoint socket).

Local authorities are encouraged to apply for funding, with two organisations so far applying for ChargePoint funding. The government published a strategy last year to reduce carbon emissions from vehicles to zero within the next 20 years, eliminating diesel and petrol vehicles completely.

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