Chancellor Philip Hammond pledged more than £80m to invest in new transport infrastructure across the West of England in the Budget.
The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) said it has been told it will receive the funding for schemes to improve connectivity, reduce congestion and encourage new technology – creating jobs and boosting economic growth.
The Budget statement also said there would be support for a much-delayed new entrance to Bristol Temple Meads railway station, pictured, leading into the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. 
It said the government would work with stakeholders on proposals for direct access from the station “to help unlock housing and employment benefits from the new Enterprise Zone”.
Plans for a much-needed upgrade of the station – one of the last UK mainline interchanges not to have been redeveloped in decades – have been shunted into the sidings by owner Network Rail.
The work has previously been costed at £295m. Network Rail had committed just £80m for the redevelopment but that was as part of the electrification of the Great Western mainline to Temple Meads, which has now been scrapped.
West of England Mayor Tim Bowles, pictured below, welcomed the £80m funding, saying it clearly demonstrated the government’s commitment to the region.
“This new funding is a direct result of devolution, and recognises the significance of our region to the national economy,” he said.
“Our ability to talk to central government as a combined authority with one voice is one of the key benefits of devolution.
“As a region, working together, we have demonstrated that we have clear and ambitious plans and government has recognised this by investing in our future.” 
The funding is to come from £1.7bn announced in the Budget for regional growth, half of which is going to combined authorities such as WECA on a per capita basis.
Mayor Bowles said WECA would also bid for money from the remainder of the fund, which will be allocated on a competitive basis.
He said over the past decade, the West of England’s economic contribution to the UK had outperformed the national average.
“Because of this success, and because we’re a great place to live and work, our population has been rising rapidly and we expect this to continue. This puts an increasing strain on our transport and infrastructure and we need this significant investment to support planned future growth,” he said.
“We will work with our constituent local authorities, Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire, to decide how best to use this funding to help get our region moving.”
The Chancellor’s Budget commitment to boost the housing market was also great news for the region, said Mayor Bowles.
WECA was already working towards an ambitious housing deal with government, he said. The move would enable it to work with its partners to deliver quality new housing, including affordable homes, and much-needed supporting infrastructure.
“There were also a number of very positive announcements [in the Budget] around skills, including lifelong learning, with particular emphasis on the digital and construction sectors. We look forward to seeing more detail around these in the coming weeks,” he said.
