£165m road fund to unlock stalled housing and employment sites

The government has launched a £165 million fund to accelerate stalled housing and employment developments across England by improving critical transport links.

The Growth and Housing Accelerator Fund, which will open for applications in the coming weeks, targets sites where progress has been hindered by funding constraints. By bridging gaps for necessary transport infrastructure, the initiative aims to enable thousands of new homes and jobs to move forward.

The fund forms part of Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3), a £27 billion programme for England’s motorways and major A-roads covering 2026 to 2031. Announced last week, the strategy focuses not only on maintaining the existing network but also on supporting economic growth by removing infrastructure barriers to development.

Local authorities will be invited by National Highways to register sites for consideration, with a rolling programme of funded schemes scheduled for publication from the end of 2026/27. Priority will be given to locations on or near motorways and A-roads, with a particular focus on areas that have historically struggled to access funding.

The wider RIS3 plan includes a record £8.4 billion for renewing and resurfacing over 9,000 kilometres of motorway and major A-road lanes, addressing ageing infrastructure where approximately two-thirds of structures are now over 45 years old.

The government said the fund supports its commitment to deliver 1.5 million new homes this Parliament, alongside raising living standards and driving growth across all regions of England.

Secretary of State Heidi Alexander said: ‘Too many housing and employment opportunities have stalled for years, held back by the infrastructure that wasn’t there to support them.

‘This fund will pave the way for developments that have sat idle for too long, funding the transport links that stalled sites need to get moving and generating new jobs and opportunities for communities that deserve them.

‘It is a deliberate choice – and a signal that this government is serious about removing the barriers to growth.’

National Highways Executive Director Elliot Shaw said: ‘Reliable roads are crucial to housing developments. They shape where people want to live, where businesses want to invest, and where communities can thrive. 

‘This fund will help unlock the transport links needed for new homes and jobs and help the government achieve its ambitions on economic growth.’