Budget 2021: What it means for the North West

ITV Granada Reports' Political Correspondent Lise McNally has the latest.

Improvements to transport networks across the North West are amongst the biggest beneficiaries in Chancellor Rishi Sunak's Budget.

The region will also benefit from £232 million in total for 12 projects from the first tranche of allocations from the Levelling Up Fund.

£635,088 from the Community Ownership Fund will be allocated to two projects in Greater Manchester and one in Lancashire.

The funding will go towards schemes such as next generation Metrolink tram-train vehicles. Credit: PA

TRANSPORT

£1.07 billion to Greater Manchester and £710 million to Liverpool City Region over five years to transform local transport networks, for schemes like next generation Metrolink tram-train vehicles, and battery power for rolling stock to expand the Merseyrail network.

Funding will also go towards battery power for rolling stock to expand the Merseyrail network.

LEVELLING UP FUND

Delivering a new Civic Hub in Radcliffe to improve adult education.
Renovating market in Bury.
Repurposing two buildings in Manchester City Centre to deliver modern workspace.
Creating the Bolton College of Medical Sciences
Restoring Grade II listed Ashton Town Hall
Investing in three theatres in Colne Town Centre.
Expanding the University of Central Lancashire’s Burnley campus.
Rescuing the Ferry across the Mersey service in Woodside.

General view of Mersey Ferry crossing the River Mersey. Credit: PA

• Continuing the regeneration of Liverpool’s docks.

Liverpool Docks Credit: PA

Building segregated walking and cycling routes across the Liverpool City Region.
Delivering the Salford Rise project in Greater Manchester.
Modernising Barrow-in-Furness’ Market Hall.

Barrow Market Hall Credit: Barrow Borough Council

COMMUNITY OWNERSHIP FUND

Other announcements include:

£3.16 million towards the regeneration of 3 estates - Sutton Way estate in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire West and Chester; Lower Falinge Area in Central Rochdale; and Sale West estate in Trafford.
Up to £50,000 each to develop proposals to reinstate passenger rail links between: Ashton and Stockport; Middlewich and Gadbrook Park; and Buckley Wells and Rawtenstall.
More than £249 million for local roads maintenance between 2022-25, and over £50 million for smaller transport improvement priorities to Local Authorities in the North West not receiving City region settlements.

The Government say the funding will provide enough to fill over 3 million potholes over the next 3 years.

£14.7 million investment to regenerate Friargate North and Ringway in Preston.
Up to £2 million for Liverpool City Region Combined Authority to develop a business case for a new attraction celebrating the legacy of the Beatles.

Beatles statue on Liverpool's waterfront. Credit: PA

The North West will also benefit from its share of national projects, including:

5 Community Diagnostic Centres in the North West, which will expand diagnostic capacity whilst targeting investment at areas of deprivation over the next three years.
£2.6 billion for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund over the Spending Review, focused on helping people into jobs and get on in life, including giving adults the opportunity to develop their numeracy skills though the Adult Numeracy Programme ‘Multiply’.
New funding for the expanded Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, with £660 million additional funding provided for the British Business Bank.
£560 million funding over the Spending Review for the Youth Investment Fund and National Citizen Service.
£5 billion for Project Gigabit, rolling out gigabit capable broadband for homes and businesses across the UK.
£2.6 billion for local road upgrades including the A595 Grizebeck Bypass in Cumbria
£24 billion for roads investment including the A66 Northern TransPennine and improvements to the M60 Simister Island.