HomeProjectsTransforming Cities Fund (TCF)

Transforming Cities Fund (TCF)

The Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) has provided the North East region with £208m for capital investment in our sustainable transport networks. Encouraging more journeys to be made using sustainable modes of transport such as public transport and active travel (walking and cycling) is a key objective of the Fund.

Project details

Portfolio: Transport

Area: County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside, Sunderland

Funding amount: 208m

Project status: In progress

Key contact: Jonathan Bailes

Key contact email: jonathan.bailes@transportnortheast.gov.uk

Page last updated 03-05-2024

Tranche 1

A £10m Tranche 1 allocation was announced in February 2019 and has been used for active travel schemes and improved bus priority in the region.

Tranche 2

In March 2020 the Government awarded a £198m Tranche 2 allocation to the North East, which will be used for two purposes:

  • Establishing a TCF Devolved Pot (£104m), which will enable a programme of over 20 schemes to be delivered by 2023. The programme includes big investments in active travel corridors, bus priority schemes, Park & Ride improvements and city centre public realm improvements.
  • Delivering the Metro Flow scheme (£94m), which will provide extra Metro track capacity in Jarrow and Hebburn that enables the whole system to operate at six trains per hour on each line, compared to five trains per hour at present. The scheme will also reduce delays to trains across the whole network by improving operating efficiency and resilience in South Tyneside.

The TCF Devolved Pot Programme

When the £198m TCF allocation was announced in March 2020, the team worked with our local authority partners and Nexus to develop a draft programme of schemes for delivery by 2023.

This programme included a degree of over-programming to reflect the fact that not all schemes can necessarily be delivered as planned by March 2023, which is when all TCF monies must be spent.

Schemes in this draft programme are not fully confirmed until they can demonstrate that they offer good value for public money.  This is demonstrated through compliance with our regional Transport Assurance Framework.

Transport Assurance Framework

Our Transport Assurance Framework guides scheme promoters on how to develop a business case for investing in their scheme. The business case will build a strategic justification for the investment, show it offers good value for money and explain how the scheme will be managed, delivered and funded.

All business cases are independently reviewed by consultants, retained by Transport North East, to ensure that a consistent and impartial view is taken on each scheme. You can download the Transport Assurance Framework here.

Schemes included in the Transforming Cities Fund

Schemes included in the Transforming Cities Fund include:

  • Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)
  • Sunderland Central Train Station
  • Durham Bus Station
  • Durham Walking and Cycling Improvements
  • Durham Park and Ride
  • West Tyneside Cycle Route
  • Metro Green Sustainable Access
  • Hill Street and Gateshead Quays Sustainable Access
  • A167 Birtley to Eighton Lodge Cycling Scheme
  • Gateshead Interchange Bus Lane Improvement
  • Transforming Newcastle City Centre
  • Ponteland to Callerton Cycleway
  • Newcastle Streets for People
  • Improvements to North Shields Transport Hub
  • A188/A189 Bus Priority Corridor Improvements Phase 1
  • North Tyneside Improvement Cycling / Walking Links to Metro
  • Metro Park and Ride Enhancements
  • South Tyneside Healthier Metro Stations
  • Holmeside Bus Rationalisation and Priority Measures
  • A690 Corridor Strategic Cycle Network
  • Durham City Active Mode Connectivity
  • East Gateshead LCWIP Phase 1