Transport for the North welcomes Rishi Sunak's Levelling Up Fund

Mr Sunak confirmed the new investment during his Spending Review in Parliament on Wednesday, which will be used for upgrading local infrastructure across the UK.

Barry White, chief executive of Transport for the North, which represents the North’s 20 local and combined authorities, as well as business leaders, described the fund as “encouraging”.

He said: “Transport for the North has already put forward many shovel-ready transport projects that could be fast-tracked to create jobs in the short-term and economic growth in the long-term.

"However, how those projects are appraised and decided will be crucial. We need to avoid a situation where communities are stuck in a bidding cycle of competition for investment, with decisions still being made by Whitehall rather than locally.”

Mr Sunak will also announce further details the Government’s national infrastructure strategy next Wednesday, including plans to narrow the north-south divide.

Mr White said: “Today’s National Infrastructure Strategy chimes entirely with our priorities for the North – closing the economic divide; fast-tracking delivery of strategic projects; and slashing carbon emissions as quickly as possible.

"The projects outlined are a good start, but there’s a lot of detail on rail in the North still to come with the forthcoming Integrated Rail Plan, which we await with interest.”

Mr Sunak will also introduce a new national infrastructure bank, which will launch next year and have its headquarters somewhere in the north of England.