Budget to ‘get things done’ for families across South West

People living and working across the South West will benefit from today’s Budget as the Conservatives deliver on the promises made to the British people, investing in infrastructure, the NHS and public services across the region.

The plans, outlined by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, will get things done and provide security for now while laying the foundation for prosperity in the future.

The Budget marks the start of record levels of investment in the people’s priorities - infrastructure, the NHS and public services – to ensure the promises in the General Election in December are kept and the potential of every part of the United Kingdom, including the South West, is unleashed.

Increases in the National Insurance threshold and the National Living Wage announced today will mean families keep more of the money they earn, while tens of millions of pounds of investment in the region’s roads, rail, housing, broadband and flood defences will ensure everyone can have the same chances and opportunities in life wherever they live.

Thanks to the measures taken today, someone working full-time on the minimum wage in the South West will be over £5,200 better off compared to 10 years ago when the Conservatives came into office.

Today’s announcements for the South West include:

• Creating a £4.2billion Local Public Transport Fund for combined authority areas to dramatically improve bus and train services in their areas. We will grant £4.2billion devolved capital funding to the eight combined authority areas, allowing their elected leaders to invest in dramatically improving local train and bus services. Starting in 2022-23, we will provide a settlement for the West of England from this fund and build on its existing devolved Transforming Cities Fund allocation.
• Developing new strategic road schemes and upgrades in the South West. We will develop new road schemes, including the A303 Stonehenge, A417 Air Balloon and a Severn Resilience package around Bristol. We are also developing major road upgrades, including the A350/M4 Junction 17 in Wiltshire, the A39 Atlantic Highway in Cornwall, the A38 Walton/Ashcott Bypass in Somerset and the M5 Junction 9/A46 in Gloucestershire.
• Investing in infrastructure to improve cycling and walking. We are providing £51million for Plymouth, including £35million for a new Central Park cycling and walking bridge, and £79million for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, including funding for four cycle freeways.
• Ensuring the South West receives its share of funding for flood and coastal defences. The following locations will benefit from at least the following levels of funding: £114million for Bridgwater, £34million for Poole and £1.4million for Gloucester to better protect over 7,000 properties.
• Providing £88million of additional funding for local road maintenance through the Potholes Fund in 2020-21.
• Providing funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund to unlock new homes in the region. We will provide £219million for the M5 Junction 10 improvements scheme in Cheltenham to unlock up to 8,967 homes.