The government has announced £15.6 billion in new transport funding outside London and the South East—a scale of investment not seen in decades. The aim? To rebalance the economy and unlock growth in our regional cities.

Having worked on some of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects in recent years—providing economic impact assessments, delivery strategies, and evaluations—I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t. Here are a few lessons to help ensure this new wave of investment delivers real, lasting change.

If We Build It, Will They Come?

The idea behind the funding is clear: use transport investment to stimulate economic growth and crowd in private capital. In the Midlands, £2.4 billion (including a metro extension) is projected to unlock an additional £3 billion from private investors.

But it’s not automatic. When I evaluated the Midlands Metro to Wolverhampton for WMCA, we found major development and land value uplift at the two ends of the line—but only modest change elsewhere. The market didn’t respond uniformly.

Take West Bromwich. The town effectively turned its back on its new station, with a sea of car parks greeting arrivals. I supported Sandwell Council in developing an ambitious masterplan to change that. It’s been rewarding to see those plans advance, with the Council now seeking a development partner.

The lesson? Each location needs its own clear, ambitious growth strategy if investment is to unlock its full potential.

Before 

After

Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail

This is no isolated case. Research for TfL on the Jubilee Line, DLR, and Crossrail showed that areas with a strong growth strategy and clear development demand saw the greatest uplift and economic impact.

Without a plan, the market can stall or underperform. We can’t simply hope private investment will follow public funding—we need to lead it.

Mind the Gap

Sometimes, the market doesn’t even recognise the opportunity in front of it.

For example, in evaluating the A6 Manchester Airport Relief Road for TfGM, we found a clear uplift in land values and development activity within five years. Yet many developers and investors we spoke to hadn’t factored that uplift into their decisions.

If developers, investors, and their financial backers don’t see or trust the benefits, funding won’t flow as intended. Better evaluation of past schemes, clearer communication of expected impacts, and greater delivery certainty can all help close that gap.

Delivering Change

I’ve worked on analyses for HS2 and NPR at Manchester Piccadilly, the OxCam Expressway, East West Rail, and a national review of HS2 Growth Strategies for Homes England. Across these projects, the vision has often been bold: new communities with scale, density, and a strong economic mix. Yet many have been hampered by delay and uncertainty.

To make the most of this £15.6 billion investment, we need strong local and regional leadership, well-defined growth strategies for each place, and early, sustained engagement with the market.

Let’s Talk

If you’re planning how to seize the opportunities this funding brings—or want to sharpen your strategy to make the case for investment—I’d be delighted to help. Get in touch if you’d like to discuss.