Transport for the North has set out a draft 30 year vision for infrastructure spending which it says could deliver an extra £100Bn for the regional economy. It published a strategic transport plan and investment programme last week that sets out to ‘rebalance’ decades of under investment in the region.

From next Monday proposals will – subject to approval – become Transport for the North’s statutory advice to Government on its ongoing priorities for enhancing connectivity.

Future schemes include taking forward Northern Powerhouse Rail, upgrading existing highways and building new roads and rolling out smart ticketing.

Under the plan, spending on strategic transport will increase by around £50 per person in the north each year.

“The strategic transport plan is a hugely important document for the north,” said Transport for the North chief executive Barry White. “It is our vision for a prosperous pan-northern future and outlines how investment in transport could transform our economy.”

The Confederation of British Industry welcomed the north’s vision. Chief UK policy director Matthew Fell said: “High quality and reliable infrastructure keeps the economy moving, drives growth, and has a tremendous impact on productivity. These plans will also create hundreds of thousands of new jobs, bringing new opportunities to communities.”

West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s transport lead Judith Blake added: “This plan makes the strong case for reversing years of underinvestment in our transport network across the north of England to help rebalance the national economy.”

(Photograph: Rcsprinter123 and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence)