New Cottam Parkway railway station faces funding shortfall
The Treasury announced last week that it was allocating £28.4m to Lancashire County Council (LCC) to deliver the scheme - located on the South Fylde line - subject to approval of a business case. It followed the completion of the Labour government's spending review, which was published last month.The shortfall - driven at least in part by inflation - means the project is still stuck in the sidings.
'Situation is a mess'
It is understood that the station is at an advanced stage of design and work could begin quickly if the funding could be found in full.County councillor John Potter, who represents the Preston West division – within which the station would be built – said the situation was "a mess"."This just sounds like another [instance] where residents are expecting something, then a whole load of delays happen – and then the excuses seem to come forward," he said."So we need to get to the truth of which figure is right when it comes to the cost."
Potter added: "We cannot allow North West Preston to just be homes and not have the infrastructure it requires."Funding was previously allocated for the Cottam Parkway project via the last government's Transforming Cities Fund back in 2020.LCC was awarded £40m for a series of schemes, with £22.3m earmarked for the new suburban station, with a further £2.1m due to be contributed from the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal – the government-backed plan to deliver the infrastructure needed to facilitate the building of 17,000 new homes in the wider area.However, it is unclear whether – and how – the tranche of cash intended for the station was ultimately used, or even whether the money announced by the Treasury last week is a renouncement of any part of the Transforming Cities Fund allocation.LCC has been approached for comment.
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