Government announces £955m for buses next year

18/11/2024 | CHRIS AMES

Government announces £955m for buses next year

The Department for Transport has announced £955m for bus services next financial year.

Ministers allocated £712m to improve bus services in 2025-2026, in the form of Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) capital and revenue funding, which is now paid on a formula basis, rather than under competitive bidding.

There was also £243m for the Bus Service Operators Grant which is paid to operators, rather than local transport authorities.

According to the County Councils Network (CCN) the cash allocations show a shift towards more rural county authorities.

The CCN also welcomed the move away from competitive bidding process and distributing funding based on need.

Cllr Peter Thornton, CCN spokesperson for transport and infrastructure said: ‘The CCN have long argued that there needs to be a fairer approach to allocating long-term investment in local bus services, moving away from a prioritisation of urban areas.

‘Under the previous government, CCN analysis showed that county and rural unitary authorities received just 33% of the funding allocated through the first rounds of BSIP funding, despite these areas witnessing the largest reduction in bus services over the past decade.'

He added: ‘We are therefore pleased that the government have listened to our calls. As a result, county and rural unitary authorities, alongside combined authorities in these areas, will receive 55% (£372m) of the new funding allocated for 2025/26. This is a significant improvement on previous rounds of BSIP funding and will help councils support local bus services in their areas.’

In the latest round of duning, Kent secured £12m capital and £10m revenue cash and Lancashire has a total of £25m.

Combined authorities have also received significant sums of revenue funding, although many receive their capital funding through a separate funding stream – the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.

West Yorkshire CA will get £34m revenue funding, the West of England £13.5m, the West Midlands £37m, the North East £24m, South Yorkshire £16m, Liverpool City Region £21m, Greater and Manchester £44m.

The East Midlands Combined Authority will get £21m capital funding and £19m revenue funding.

In general, capital funding provides cash for infrastructure and revenue supports services.

Rebecca Fuller, assistant director at the Urban Transport Group, which represents city region transport authorities, said: ‘This funding will help to protect services and keep fares low for passengers who rely on the bus to get to work, college or hospital appointments.

‘Crucially, it provides a bridge to the Spending Review, where we hope to lock in a longer-term revenue and capital funding settlement for local transport.’

Last month local authorities were promised £925m ‘to introduce new bus routes, make services more frequent and protect crucial bus routes for local communities’ - though this has now been increased by a further £30m.

Highways InProfile

latest magazine issue
Highways jobs

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
This role is fundamental to the success of the Highways Service. Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Major Projects x 4

£45,894.00 - £54,952.00
We are looking for experienced engineers to help us progress a number of key projects and programmes Glasgow, Glasgow City
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Technician - Maintenance

£31001.0000 - £36471.0000 per annum
Essex Highways is responsible for managing and maintaining one of the largest highway networks in the country
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Highways Contract Engineer

£46,731 - £49,764
The team helps provide a safe road network that operates efficiently and effectively.  Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Principal Transport Planner

£46,731 - £49,764 (pro-rata)
We are looking for an experienced professional to join us on a six-month temporary contact as a Principal Transport Planner. Kettering, Northamptonshire
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council

Highways Maintenance Operative

£Competitive
We have a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Highways Maintenance Operative Broughton, Brigg
Recruiter: Amey

Head of Highways Contracts & Network

£81,803 progressing to £90,664 per annum
The team includes approximately 60 directly employed HCC people Hertfordshire
Recruiter: Hertfordshire County Council

Principal Construction Manager

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Principal Construction Manager Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Quality Technician

£Competitive
We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity for a Permanent Quality Technician Yorkshire and the Humber
Recruiter: Amey

Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)

£42679.0000 - £50211.0000 per annum
Senior Highway Engineer (Development Management)Permanent, Full Time£43,960 to £51,718 per annum*Location
Recruiter: Essex County Council

Project Manager (Major Projects)

£44,711 - £47,754
Are you an experienced project professional or engineer with looking to take the next step in your career? Halifax, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Civil Engineer - Roads

£45,894 - £54,952
Are you an experienced engineer looking to support the Scottish Government’s national objectives. Scotland
Recruiter: Transport Scotland

Project Team Manager

£55,147 to £60,676 per annum
We are pleased to be able to offer an opportunity for a role as Design Team Manager Norwich, Norfolk
Recruiter: Norfolk County Council

Clerk of Works

GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Assistant Projects Engineer

GRADE 06 (£29,093 - £32,654),GRADE 07 (£33,366 - £37,035), GRADE 08 (£37,938 - £41,511)
Warrington is one of the most successful towns in the country Warrington, Cheshire
Recruiter: Warrington Borough Council

Principal Engineer - Traffic Management

£45,718 - £48,710 per annum
At Bath & North East Somerset Council we have one overriding purpose – to improve people’s lives. Bath, Somerset
Recruiter: Bath & North East Somerset Council

Vehicle Technician - Improver

£28,624 - £30,060
Transport Services is responsible for all aspects of transport and related services Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recruiter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council

Programme Delivery Office Administrator

Grade 9 £31,344 - £33,253 per annum
At Derbyshire, we have been on a journey to transform the way we deliver highway services to make them fit for the future Derbyshire
Recruiter: Derbyshire County Council

Support Officer - Highways Asset Management Systems

£31,586 - £34,314
We are a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to maintaining and improving our highway infrastructure. Lincolnshire
Recruiter: Lincolnshire County Council

Principal Transport Planner (Strategy)

£46,731-£49,764
We are looking for an experienced professional to join North Northamptonshire Council as a Principal Transport Planner (Strategy). Sheerness House, 41 Meadow Road, Kettering moving to Haylock House, Kettering Parkway, Kettering NN15 6EY, United Kingdom
Recruiter: North Northamptonshire Council
SUBSCRIBE NOW

Latest Video

Subscribe to Highways today to ensure you keep your finger on the pulse of everything happening in the UK road network throughout the year.

SUBSCRIBE NOW