---
title: Funding Transport Investment
url: "https://www.systra.com/uk/expert_insights/funding-transport-investment/"
type: expert_insights
date_published: 2020-08-12
date_modified: 2023-09-14
schema:
  @type: WebPage
language: en-GB
word_count: 276
reading_time: 2 min
canonical: "https://www.systra.com/uk/expert_insights/funding-transport-investment/"
featured_image: "https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/funding-transport-investment.jpg"
type-insight:
  - Sustainable Transport
---

# Funding Transport Investment

![Funding Transport Investment](https://www.systra.com/uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/funding-transport-investment.jpg)

**There are numerous government controlled opportunities for funding transport investment, including funds targeted at wider regeneration and development objectives. Funding bids are often competitive and have short turnaround times.**

### The Challenge

Bids require business cases which are complex and subject to thorough assurance
processes. Business cases need robust evidence bases including recent data and
transport models. Similar evidence will be required to secure planning and other
consents.

### THE 5-CASE MODEL

- **Strategic case** – a compelling story for the proposed investment
- **Economic case** – return on public investment (economic, environmental,
  social and distributional impacts)
- **Commercial case** – how will the scheme be procured and risks transferred?
- **Financial case** – is the proposal affordable over its life span?
- **Management case** – how will the scheme be planned, managed and risks
  handled?

### KEYS TO SUCCESS

- **Talk to key stakeholders early**: DfT, Highways England, Network Rail,
  neighbouring authorities, Environment Agency, sub-national transport bodies,
  etc
- **Understand business case guidance**
- **Don’t jump to the solution** – be clear on objectives and consider a range
  of solutions
- **Have a clear narrative** for why the investment is required
- **Be prepared** – have the evidence and analysis “in a back pocket” to exploit
  funding opportunities
- **Identify all relevant benefits**: including transport, economic development
  and job creation, environment and housing delivery
- Early **“gap analysis”** of the evidence – do we need to do a survey, update a
  transport model, etc?
- **Focus** effort and budgets on main benefits, downsides & risk
- Align the business case to the **objectives of the fund**: eg housing, jobs,
  climate, inclusion, etc
- Identify **local funding source** or private partners
- Consider a **funding cocktail** drawing on multiple sources

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