Transport for Lancashire outlines £100m plans

Transport for Lancashire has announced a package of road and rail improvements worth more than £100m across six projects.

The newly-formed local transport body will bring together public and private sector investment to build the infrastructure needed to help businesses create jobs, and allow people to access them.

Transport for Lancashire is a committee of the LEP at which the leaders of each council meet with the LEP chairman and vice-chairman to ensure future transport schemes support economic development.

The plans include, in Lancashire, £58m towards the estimated £90m total construction cost of a new road linking the M55 near Bartle with the A583 near Clifton to support development of new housing in North West Preston and improve links to the Enterprise Zone site at Warton. This scheme forms part of the City Deal.

The money will also include £16.4m towards the estimated £18.2m total cost of improving access to the national rail network from Blackpool, Fleetwood and Cleveleys, by extending the new tramway from the Promenade at North Pier to Blackpool North railway station.

Five further schemes will form a development pool, which will be brought forward should circumstances change or further funding opportunities emerge.

"Preston has enormous potential as a focal point for economic growth, but this bid is on a vast scale and it is not just the city itself but the whole of Lancashire that stands to benefit. It also complements our existing programmes for job creation and apprenticeships.

"As a committee of the LEP, Transport for Lancashire will allow the private and public sectors to speak with one voice to ensure we get the best possible deal."

"Better transport will allow the jobs which are created to be accessed by people across the whole county, and the wider economic benefits will be felt by everyone. We'll now be working hard to ensure the business case to support the funding and delivery of these schemes is as strong as it can be. "As a county council, we are also working hard on producing transport master plans for the whole of Lancashire, which will make sure we have the right infrastructure to support growth."