£165m Fund Launched to Unlock Housing and Jobs Through Transport Improvements

National Highways is calling on local and mayoral combined authorities to put forward proposals for a new £165m fund aimed at removing transport barriers to development.

The Growth and Housing Accelerator (GHA) Fund, announced as part of the government’s third Road Investment Strategy, will support schemes where a lack of transport infrastructure is preventing housing or employment sites from progressing.

The focus is on locations on or near the strategic road network where targeted improvements could unlock stalled developments.

The initiative forms part of the government’s wider commitment to deliver 1.5 million homes during the current Parliament, alongside boosting economic growth and job creation.

Authorities are now invited to submit expressions of interest, identifying sites where investment in transport—such as junction upgrades, public transport links, or active travel infrastructure—could enable development to move forward.

Elliot Shaw, Chief Customer and Strategy Officer at National Highways, said the fund is intended to accelerate delivery by addressing key infrastructure gaps. He encouraged authorities to come forward with projects where relatively small interventions could have a significant impact.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the funding reflects a clear intention to tackle long-standing barriers that have held back development. She noted that many sites have remained dormant due to missing infrastructure and that the fund aims to unlock those opportunities, supporting both housing delivery and local economies.

The GHA Fund will be administered by National Highways, with a deadline of 19 June for authorities to register their interest.