North should ‘take control’ of infastructure funding decisions, think tank urges

The north of England receives six-times less infrastructure funding than London, according to a leading think tank’s analysis.

According to a new Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) study, the north will get an average of £280 per person while London will receive £1,870.

IPPR have found between 2016/17 and 2020/21 the north east will see £300 per person, the north west £290, Yorkshire & Humber £250, and London £1,900.

Total spend on Crossrail alone will be £4.6bn during this period, and will exceed spending on all projects in the north (£4.3bn).

IPPR North has written to the new secretary of state for transport to urge him to develop a ‘North First’ approach to infrastructure investment.

‘The referendum result showed that now more than ever, we need a ‘North First’ approach to investment,’ Ed Cox, director of IPPR