Transport links across England are set to benefit from an extra financial boost, making housing developments more viable
A £165m road improvement fund has been promised to help unblock developments due to inadequate road infrastructure.
The funding comes under the Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3), which is putting more than £27bn into linking repair and improvement.
The fund is called the Growth and Housing Accelerator Fund
It is expected that alongside funding transport improvements, the fund will also lead to thousands of new homes being unblocked and jobs being created.
The fund will focus on areas adjacent to, or near to motorways and A-roads throughout England, and National Highways will be inviting authorities over the next few weeks to register developments for consideration.
This will lead to a rolling programme of funded schemes for the years 2026/27.
Secretary of state Heidi Alexander said: “Too many housing and employment opportunities have stalled for years, held back by the infrastructure that wasn’t there to support them.
“This fund will pave the way for developments that have sat idle for too long, funding the transport links that stalled sites need to get moving and generating new jobs and opportunities for communities that deserve them.
“It is a deliberate choice – and a signal that this government is serious about removing the barriers to growth.
Housing secretary, Steve Reed, said: “For many people, the dream of a decent home, close to work, and with good connections to their community, has been out of reach.
“This government is firing on all cylinders to get spades in the ground faster so we can build new homes, bolster our transport links and create jobs in the places most in need.
“This is exactly the kind of targeted, practical action that will help us reach 1.5 million new homes and create thriving communities where people can put down roots.
The Road Investment Strategy is renewing over 9,000km of motorway and A roads
Last year, the Annual Local Authority Road Maintenance (ALARM) survey highlighted that UK roads currently have a repair backlog of nearly £17bn, the highest figure yet recorded.
Furthermore, the survey showed that a road is resurfaced only once every 93 years, on average.
Shortly before that, the National Audit Office published a report finding that, in England, just 48% of local roads were found to be in ‘good’ condition, while 35% were rated as ‘adequate’ and 17% as ‘poor.’
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