Mixed response to DfT handover plan

摘要

Industry leaders have welcomed the Department for Transport's (DfT) plans to hand responsibility for a wider range of schemes to local bodies -but some experts fear it could lead to fewer large-scale projects. The proposals, which the DfT put out to consultation on 31 January, could see local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) and local authorities take responsibility for schemes such as new local roads and railway stations. Under the current system, central government must approve all projects of more than £5m. However, the proposals would remove this cap. Local bodies would be handed power from 2015 and allocated funding by formula, rather than through a competitive bidding process.