Local Authorities Urged to Apply for Green Transport Funding

In his speech at the Northern Transport Summit in Manchester (today), Transport Secretary Chris Grayling urged more local authorities to apply for funding focused on ecologically sustainable transport projects.

Grayling reported that millions in funding is still available to councils and businesses through a range of green schemes, such as public, home and workplace chargepoints.

Using the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme as an example, Grayling reported that so far only two local authorities in the north have bid for funding from the fund in 2019/20.

The purpose of the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme is to increase the availability of on-street charging points in residential streets where off-street parking is not available, thereby ensuring that off-street parking is not a pre-requisite for realising the benefits of owning a plug-in electric vehicle. A total of £4.5 million was made available for 2018/19 and 2019/20.

Grayling 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 invested £576 million across the north-west, north-east, and Yorkshire and the Humber to support public and sustainable transport infrastructure, encouraging an increase in journeys made by low-carbon modes across the region.

In addition to the On-Street Residential Chargepoint Scheme, funding that remains available to apply to in 2019/20 includes:

Future Mobility Zones Fund (£70 million)

e-cargo bike grant fund (£2 million)

Workplace Charging Scheme (£500 per chargepoint socket and £10,000 per business)

Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (£500 per chargepoint socket).

More information about these funding opportunities and the application process is available on the GRANTfinder funding information platform. GRANTfinder provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on funding news and policy. To find out more about how GRANTfinder can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.