County Spotlight - Transport and Infrastructure

This edition of our County Spotlight highlights how our member authorities are delivering major transport and infrastructure improvements across England’s counties, profiling 16 case studies.

Our member councils are responsible for 70% of England’s roads and spend around £4bn annually on transport and highways. This study highlights how county councils and unitary councils are delivering large-scale projects to improve residents’ lives and unlock growth, improvements in public transport, and enabling more drivers to switch to greener transport.

The report, however, does highlight challenges faced in counties too: reduced public transport, greater reliance on cars, and underinvestment relative to urban areas.

Inflation, declining bus services, and funding gaps add further pressure. Yet despite this, County Councils Network (CCN) members are innovating - modernising transport networks, promoting greener travel, and strengthening connectivity to support levelling up and net‑zero ambitions.

In order to build on this good work, the report recommends that government:

• Expands devolved transport powers and funding to county areas.
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• Increases capital investment in rural transport infrastructure and bus services.
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• Provides inflation‑responsive funding to protect ongoing projects.
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• Supports counties’ role as strategic coordinators for housing, growth and connectivity.