Green transport, skilled jobs and stronger UK manufacturing were on the agenda at a Westminster meeting to accelerate more opportunities across UK regions.
The fifth meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel focused on the adoption of more green transport, including zero-emission buses, to give UK manufacturers the long-term certainty needed to invest and grow.
The panel also committed to ensuring that new zero-emission buses bring real social benefits to the communities they serve, and work to support local employment, sustainability, and inclusivity.
The meeting was chaired by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander and Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, with wider attendance from mayors including David Skaith (York and North Yorkshire), Richard Parker (West Midlands), and Steve Rotheram (Liverpool), alongside Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill and the Scottish Government’s Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop.
Accelerating the UK’s green transport supply chain
The panel’s inaugural meeting took place in Sheffield earlier this year and set out to ensure that the UK remains a leader in bus building while helping local authorities to deliver their transport ambitions.
The government is working closely with local authorities to ensure new bus orders continue to support the UK supply chain and deliver reliable green transport for passengers.
Currently, around 60% of zero-emission buses funded through the government’s ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) programmes are being built by UK-based manufacturers, and the panel is committed to supporting manufacturers as they undertake these new contracts.
“By mapping out future demand, we’re giving industry the certainty they need to grow – supporting jobs, delivering better buses for passengers, and accelerating our journey towards a cleaner, greener transport system, while delivering our Plan for Change,” explained Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.
More zero-emission buses rolled out across every UK region
The UK’s commitment to green transport follows £38m in funding to deliver 319 new zero-emission buses across 12 cities in England by spring 2027, with each pound of funding matched by at least £3 of private investment.
The biggest beneficiaries included:
- Nottinghamshire County Council, which is benefiting from £2.3m to launch 42 new electric buses
- Hull City Council, where £3.9m has been allocated to provide 42 vehicles
- West of England Combined Authority, which is receiving nearly £20m for 160 buses
The UK Government has also recently allocated a further £28m to deliver new zero-emission buses in Sheffield and Bradford, to improve air quality on key city centre routes.
More transport control for local authorities
The push for cleaner bus travel is also supported by the Bus Services Bill, which is currently progressing through Parliament.
The Bill will give local authorities more control over how services are planned and delivered, while introducing new powers to end the use of new diesel buses in England from no earlier than 2030.
Jason Prince, Director of the Urban Transport Group, concluded: “Investing in buses, especially greener, cleaner buses, is good for our transport systems, our health and the economy.
“Government, operators and our members, working together through the manufacturing panel to unlock the full potential of greener buses, will help realise these benefits for passengers and their local communities.”
