Baseline synthesis: Transforming Cities Fund national evaluation

Between 2018/19 and 2022/23, the Department for Transport allocated the £2.45bn Transforming Cities Fund across 18 English city regions – to support delivery of sustainable transport improvements which would enhance intra-city connectivity and boost productivity and prosperity.

To evaluate the impact of this unprecedented level of investment in local sustainable transport programmes, the Department for Transport commissioned the University of the West of England, Sustrans and Transport for Quality of Life to conduct a national evaluation of the Fund.  

Following extensive liaison with the many local authorities benefitting from the Transforming Cities Fund, an evaluation framework was agreed based on specific modes and places. This report synthesises the findings of the baseline analysis which tested this methodology.

Since this analysis, in addition to varying local factors in TCF areas, subsequent global events, including the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, have impacted supply chains, scheme costs and delivery timescales, reshaping the scope and nature of what the Fund will deliver. However, the baseline analysis remains robust in terms of the broad evaluation approach being taken, and the travel trends observed prior to the Fund launching.

The final stage of the TCF national evaluation is scheduled to report in 2026.