Greater Cambridge City Deal - how has it spent funds so far?

Millions of pounds have been committed to push forward 13 transport and development projects in Greater Cambridge.

The City Deal agreed more than £11million to progress projects and get others in line for a further £200million from the Government in 2020. At last week’s meeting of the executive board, more money was agreed to be spent than in the previous two years combined, and plans will see cash flowing more freely into initiatives until 2020.

Development of 12 cycling ‘Greenways’ got £480,000 of investment to get the project ‘shovel-ready’ for 2020.

“It’s very exciting,” said Francis Burkitt, vice chair of the City Deal exectutive board. “I think we’re working out where our priorities lie. Most are transport priorities in terms of getting people out of their cars and into alternative modes of transport.

“A lot of it comes down to people. You can only do these things if there are the staff.

“Take the Greenways, for example; the funding ensures two people to deliver plans for all 12 routes and all the consultations. Those people will spend two years working with all the stakeholders in public consultations, planning them slowly, making people very happy.”

The city access project – which will tackle congestion and air pollution, including a workplace parking levy and clean air zone – will get a £5.045million investment. Of this, £702,000 will go towards hiring new staff exclusively for City Deal.

Electric charging points in the city got £100,000, which will provide rapid charge points for electric taxis.

Two feasibility studies were funded: one to assess the case for a Cambridge South railway station that would support Addenbrooke’s and the Biomedical Campus, which will cost £150,000, and one to assess potential South Cambridgeshire travel hubs, costing £100,000.

A ‘movement and spaces’ study will also get £150,000, while a strategic planning and transport framework will get £230,000.

The Smart Cambridge programme, including an app to help people find the best way to get around the city, got £1.64 million.

Additional funds were invested in strengthening communications processes.

In 2020 the City Deal will unlock a further £200million, providing it can show schemes are on-track and on-budget, and investing in the growth of Greater Cambridge. A second £200million instalment would also be available, and private funding has potential to make the City Deal a £1billion investment.

The Government funding is:

£100 million 2015-2019

Up to £200 million 2020 - 2024

Up to £200 million 2025 - 2034

City Deal Expenditure Estimates

Tranche 1

2015 /16 £2 million

2016 /17 £7m

2017 /18 £15m

2018 /19 £26m

2019 /20 £35m

1920/21 £88m

New budget proposals agreed for 2017/18 onwards

Cycling Greenways £480,000

Resident Parking Schemes £1,000,000

City Access £5,045,000

Taxi Charging £100,000

Cambridge South train station study £150,000

Local Plan for Greater Cambridge £230,000

Movement and spaces study £150,000

Resources incl staff £677,650

Cambridge Promotions Agency £40,000

Smart Cities including app £1,640,000

Skills and Apprenticeships £2,340,000 (ring-fenced subject to a pre scheduled paper due in Summer 2017)

Travel Hubs £100,000

Total £11,852,650

Tranche 1 spend

Milton Road upgrade £23,040,000

Histon Road upgrade £4,280,000

Cross city cycling £8,000,000

Chisholm Trail £8,400,000

City centre capacity improvements £3,000,000

A1307 corridor, busway & P&R £39,000,000

Cambourne - Cambridge Busway & P&R £70,000,000

A10 upgrades £3,150,000

Management & Development £4.95m