Title

WHITEHALL

Budget 2016: Government 'redoubles efforts to make Britain fit for future'

Chancellor George Osborne has announced funding for major transport infrastructure projects in the north of England and given a commitment to part-fund Crossrail 2.

Chancellor George Osborne has announced funding for major transport infrastructure projects in the north of England and given a commitment to part-fund Crossrail 2. 

In his Budget, which he described as ‘pro-infrastructure,' Mr Osborne announced both substantive funding for new road and rail schemes and development funding for possible future schemes.

Mr Osborne thanked Lord Adonis for his work as chair of the National Infrastructure Committee, which he said had made a ‘strong start'.

The Government will allocate £60m to develop options for High Speed 3 between Leeds and Manchester, as well as options for improving other major city rail links.

It will also provide £80m, which it said, ‘together with a contribution from London, will allow Crossrail 2 to proceed'. 

Mr Osborne has allocated of £16m funding to improve rail station facilities and will detail how £50m from the Pothole Action Fund will be allocated across England in 2016/17. 

He said the Budget invested in infrastructure and would ‘redouble our efforts to make Britain fit for the future'.

WHITEHALL

Budget: The effects on combined and strategic authorities

By Tiffany Cloynes | 05 December 2025

Tiffany Cloynes looks at at the financial implications of the Budget for combined authorities and strategic authorities. She says that while the introduction...

WHITEHALL

The final 15%: Why reaching every home with gigabit broadband matters

By Gráinne Gilmore | 05 December 2025

Gráinne Gilmore says the chancellor’s announcement of historic fiscal devolution – including £13bn of integrated settlements - gives local leaders unprecede...

WHITEHALL

Budget: Key Cities seek funding that reflects real pressures

By Cllr John Merry | 01 December 2025

Support for regional growth is welcome, but more must be done to address real pressures facing local authorities, says Cllr John Merry.

WHITEHALL

Budget: Putting stability in the spotlight

By Dan Corry | 28 November 2025

Dan Corry says that if the measures in the Budget can lead to some stability that allows growth to emerge then we will all gain.

Popular articles by Chris Ames