‘Opportunity to build a New North’ after pandemic

Transport for the North has set out a Northern Transport Charter to showcase how the region is best placed to shape its own future.

Martin Tugwell, chief executive of Transport for the North, is calling for more devolution and new approach to funding for the region: one that recognises that local leaders are best placed to shape the future of connectivity in a way that creates opportunities for people and businesses. At TfN’s Annual Conference in Leeds, Tugwell will highlight the importance of allowing the North’s political and business leaders to decide and deliver on transport needs.

The charter is a road map towards further devolution and funding control that would make levelling up real. The proposals are grouped around four key ambitions: championing an inclusive and sustainable North; a long-term Northern funding settlement; leading strategic transport delivery; and putting rail passengers first.

Tugwell said: “There is a prize of building a New North up for grabs, but it requires both investment to create transformational change, and the devolution of powers to those best placed to use them. By bringing our region’s leaders together Transport for the North acts as the voice of our region on transport challenges and opportunities.  It has allowed  us to set out a single, ambitious vision that will transform connectivity, empower our people and businesses, help tackle climate change, support economic growth; enhance accessibility; and address societal disadvantages.

“Our Northern Transport Charter sets out how the investment made in TfN can be used to provide leadership and to determine what is best for our region. With further devolution and control over investment and policy decisions, we can work to close the North-South divide, unleash the North’s economic potential, and make real the levelling up agenda in a green accessible and sustainable way: with it we can build a truly new north of England to the benefit of generations to come.”