Ten UK cities shortlisted for share of £1.7bn fund to improve transport

'Our great cities and their suburbs are home to millions of people and world-beating businesses,' Theresa May says

Money will form part of Theresa May's £1.7bn fund for improving transport links (Getty)

Ten UK cities have been shortlisted for a share of £1.7bn government funding in a bid to improve transport links, Theresa May has said.

In order to "help spread growth beyond London," the prime minister said the funding will form part of her administration's "transforming cities" fund announced last year.

Six authorities, including the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Cambridge and Peterborough, Liverpool, the West of England and Tees Valley, have already received £840m, the government said.

Local authorities in Derby and Nottingham, Leicester, the North East, Norwich, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Sheffield, Stoke-on-Trent and West Yorkshire have now been invited send off bids for the cash.

Ministers have said that in practice the money will go towards new bus routes, smart technology aimed at reducing congestion and rolling out docking stations for e-bikes.

"Our great cities and their suburbs are home to millions of people and world-beating businesses," Ms May said.

She continued: "We want to help them succeed, so as part of our modern industrial strategy we will fund £840m of upgrades for better, safer, faster transport links.

"These improvements to vital infrastructure will help spread growth beyond London and empower local businesses to create more, better-paying jobs - opening up more opportunities to help people get on in life and be rewarded for their hard work."

The ten shortlisted city regions will each receive an initial £50,000 as well as support from Government to co-develop the strongest cases for investment.

Once finalised, ministers will consider the relative strength of each bid and their impact on "improving connectivity, supporting employment and driving up productivity".

Chris Grayling, the transport secretary, added: "Good bus, cycle and tram routes play a huge role in increasing the vitality and vibrancy of cities. These 10 areas now have the chance to transform their transport systems - making it easier for people to get around and enhance links to work, schools or shops."

But Labour's Andy McDonald, the shadow transport secretary, said: "This is not new money, it's already been announced."

He added that while half of the funding will go to city regions, "the rest will be fought over by cities and local authorities in a bidding war" after already enduring "eight years of Tory austerity".

"The city Transformation Fund offers little while there is a £10bn black hole in the road maintenance budget."