The Government has pledged to accelerate major transport, housing and regeneration projects across England by giving mayors greater powers and backing to deliver growth-focused schemes in their regions.
Meeting with metro mayors from across the country, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer outlined plans to deepen devolution and remove barriers that have delayed infrastructure projects, with transport investment emerging as a central pillar of the Government’s growth strategy.
The move comes as ministers continue preparations for the creation of Great British Railways (GBR) and wider reforms designed to give local leaders greater influence over transport networks, planning decisions and economic development.
A key rail announcement included confirmation that discussions are underway with the Mayor of London regarding the transfer of local rail services between Moorgate, Welwyn Garden City and Stevenage into Transport for London control. The proposal is intended to improve service reliability, simplify connections and support planned housing growth in North London and Hertfordshire.
The Government also confirmed plans to devolve Transport and Works Act Order approval powers, enabling mayors to approve future mass transit projects within their own regions without requiring central government sign-off.
The announcement is expected to speed up delivery of major urban transport schemes, including the proposed West Yorkshire mass transit network and further expansion of the West Midlands Metro.
For the rail sector, the proposals reinforce the growing role regional authorities will play in shaping future transport investment and infrastructure priorities.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the Government was determined to move beyond delays and unlock projects that support economic growth.
“For too long, Britain has been held back by a system that says no, delaying projects, blocking growth and leaving communities behind,” he said.
“We’re turning that on its head by backing our mayors to get Britain building again, with spades in the ground and more jobs across the country.”
The Government’s latest devolution package builds on powers introduced through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act, which now extends devolution arrangements across approximately two-thirds of England.
Under the reforms, mayors have received multi-year funding settlements and expanded powers over planning, housing and transport delivery.
For the rail industry, the announcements provide further evidence of a shift towards more locally driven transport planning, with regional leaders expected to play an increasingly important role in shaping future rail investment, station development, mass transit schemes and wider connectivity strategies.
Among the projects highlighted by ministers was the reopening of the Cowley branch line in Oxford, which will improve access between the city centre and the expanding Oxford Science Park, supporting both economic growth and sustainable travel objectives.
The Government also pointed to the recently launched Mass Transit Taskforce, established to accelerate delivery of urban transit systems nationwide, and wider planning reforms intended to reduce delays to infrastructure projects.
Alongside transport investment, ministers reaffirmed their commitment to major housing delivery programmes, highlighting more than 342,000 homes delivered since the start of the current Parliament, alongside a £39 billion Affordable Homes Programme and a £16 billion National Housing Bank.
The link between transport infrastructure and housing growth remains a central theme of the Government’s strategy, with ministers increasingly positioning rail, mass transit and integrated transport networks as critical enablers of future housing development.
West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin welcomed the Government’s backing for her region’s long-awaited mass transit ambitions.
“We have ambitious plans for our region and a Mass Transit network is a key part to unlocking our untapped potential which will boost growth and put more money in people’s pockets,” she said.
Meanwhile, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker highlighted progress on the Eastside Metro extension in Birmingham, which is expected to support wider regeneration plans around the city’s emerging Sports Quarter and unlock significant investment, jobs and housing.
For rail businesses, contractors and infrastructure suppliers, the announcements signal continued opportunities across transport investment programmes, particularly as devolved authorities gain greater control over planning, procurement and project delivery.
As Great British Railways continues to take shape and devolution expands further, the relationship between regional transport authorities and the rail industry is likely to become increasingly significant in determining where future investment is directed and how major projects are delivered.
