National Highways is inviting eligible local authorities and mayoral combined authorities to submit expressions of interest to the new Growth and Housing Accelerator (GHA) Fund for critical transport works to unblock the delivery of housing and employment sites.

The £165 million fund, announced in the government’s third Road Investment Strategy, will focus on sites on or near to National Highways roads where transport links are the only thing preventing a development from proceeding.

National Highways outlines that the initiative forms part of the government’s wider ambition to deliver 1.5 million new homes during this Parliament. Eligible local authorities and mayoral combined authorities are being invited to register developments for consideration under the scheme.

National Highways Chief Customer and Strategy Officer Elliot Shaw said: “This fund will help unlock the transport links needed for new homes and jobs, supporting the government’s ambitions for economic growth. I encourage authorities to come forward with schemes where a targeted transport intervention can help get development moving.”

Secretary of State Heidi Alexander said: “Too many housing and employment opportunities have stalled for years, held back by infrastructure that wasn’t there to support them. This fund will pave the way for developments that have sat idle for too long, funding the transport links that stalled sites need to get moving and generating new jobs and opportunities for communities that deserve them. It is a deliberate choice – and a signal that this government is serious about removing barriers to growth.”

The fund, which will be administered by National Highways, will invest in projects such as junction improvements, public transport and active travel route facilities including signalling and signage.

Authorities will have until Friday 19 June to express an interest

For more information about the GHA Fund read here.

(Picture – National Highways)