DEVON County Council’s (DCC) cabinet rubberstamped its £154m Transport Capital Programme on Wednesday, October 11, which will see an “ambitious” programme of rail and bus improvements, new cycle trails and road schemes across the county.

The programme sets out DCC’s transport infrastructure priorities for the next two years and will progress many schemes to the design or delivery stage.

The schemes are varied, but all will look to support the council’s vision for sustainable, low carbon economic growth and safe and better-connected communities.

The programme is supported by over £130 million in grants from Government programmes like the Large Local Major Schemes and Major Road Network programmes (North Devon Link, A382 scheme), Bus Service Improvement Plan (focused on Exeter, Newton Abbot and Barnstaple), Active Travel Fund (various schemes in Exeter, Queen Street, Newton Abbot and the Tarka Trail), Housing Infrastructure Fund (SW Exeter) and Levelling Up Fund (Dinan Way, Exmouth and Exmouth Gateway, the West Devon Transport Hub in Okehampton).

More than £18 million of that Government support has been achieved through collaborative working with Team Devon, (district councils)  and has secured investment from other District-led grant programmes including the Freeport programme (Plymouth and South West Devon), Housing Infrastructure Fund (Dawlish Link Road), Future High Streets Fund (Queen Street, Newton Abbot) and Heritage Action Zone (Cullompton Town Centre).

DCC is contributing £13 million along with £6.8 million in developer contributions, which is integral to securing the grant funding.

Councillor Andrea Davis, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, said: “This extensive and ambitious programme sets out our short-term priority for investment in transport infrastructure across Devon.

“It builds on long-term commitments as detailed in adopted strategies such as Local Plans, the Local Transport Plan, the Cycling and Multi-Use Trail Network Strategy, and the Transport Infrastructure Plan and takes advantage of Devon County Council’s proven track record of securing significant Government investment.

“It is a key part in our Strategic Plan objectives to make Devon the best place to live and work and will invest in transport infrastructure that responds to the climate emergency, supports sustainable economic recovery, improves health and wellbeing and helps communities to be safe, connected and resilient.”