Transforming Cities Fund
This fund, which closed to applications in 2018, aimed to improve productivity by investing in public and sustainable transport infrastructure in English cities.
Documents
Details
The Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) is a £2.45 billion capital grant transport fund aimed at driving up productivity through investments in public and sustainable transport infrastructure in some of England’s largest city regions.
It was launched at Autumn Budget 2017 and expanded in Budget 2018.
Aims of the fund
Improving access to good jobs within English cities and encouraging an increase in journeys made by low-carbon and sustainable modes of transport are key objectives of the TCF.
The TCF also aims to support the following wider cross-cutting priorities:
- tackling air pollution
- delivering more homes
- delivering apprenticeships and improving skills investments
- encouraging the use of new mobility systems and technology as part of the Future of Mobility Grand Challenge established in the Industrial Strategy
The original call for proposals and application guidance for shortlisted cities are available on the National Archives.
Available funding
Mayoral Combined Authorities
Around half of the TCF (£1.08 billion) has been allocated to 6 Mayoral Combined Authorities (MCAs) on a per capita and devolved basis. View the funding allocations awarded to MCAs.
Future Transport Zones
At Budget 2018, an additional £90 million was announced for Future Transport Zones (originally known as Future Mobility Zones), which will be used to trial new transport modes, services, and digital payments and ticketing in the following 4 local authorities:
- Derby and Nottingham
- West Midlands
- Solent Transport (Portsmouth and Southampton)
- West of England
See Evaluation of the future transport zones programme for more information.
Tranche 1
In Tranche 1 of the TCF, 30 projects from 10 shortlisted English city regions were awarded £60 million in funding. Learn more about Tranche 1 and view the funding allocations.
Tranche 2
In Tranche 2 of TCF, 12 shortlisted cities had the opportunity to bid for a share of £1.22 billion of funding. Learn more about Tranche 2 and view the funding allocations.
All TCF funding has now been awarded.
Timeline
The timeline is:
- 2017: TCF launched at Autumn Budget
- 2018: expansion of TCF and launch of Future Transport Zones funding announced in the Budget 2018: MCAs allocated initial awards
- 2019: Tranche 1 awarded and funding for MCAs extended
- March to December 2020: phased award of Tranche 2 cities
- March 2025: planned completion of TCF schemes
Evaluation
An independent contractor is evaluating the TCF programme. Outputs are expected to include a series of focused case studies. The first of these examined the ‘co-development’ approach to funding under Tranche 2. A government response is published alongside it.
Updates to this page
Last updated 30 July 2021 + show all updates
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Information about evaluating the TCF programme and the co-development process added.
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'Transforming Cities Fund: tranche 2 supplementary guidance for shortlisted city regions' published.
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Supplementary guidance for shortlisted cities and list of shortlisted cities published.
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First published.