Build trams in city regions to boost growth outside capital

By the Editorial Team · Monday, July 6, 2026

Andy Burnham faces pressure from allies like Andy Street to reduce regulatory barriers and empower city regions to expand tram networks as a means to drive economic growth and job creation outside London. This push addresses the UK’s lagging tram infrastructure compared to Europe, with plans like the Leeds supertram aiming to improve urban connectivity, though construction timelines have been delayed until the early 2030s.

Andy Burnham, the expected next prime minister, faces calls to streamline regulations and empower city regions to build expanded tram networks aimed at boosting economic growth and employment outside London. The recommendation comes from Andy Street, former mayor of the West Midlands and a close ally, who emphasized the potential of tram systems to improve regional productivity.

Burnham has pledged to devolve greater decision-making powers to local mayors, a move that supporters say could facilitate infrastructure projects tailored to the needs of individual areas. Street, who is also widely expected to take a senior role in the newly formed Great British Railways overseeing the country’s rail network, advocates for the construction of hundreds of miles of new tram lines across urban centers. He argues that the United Kingdom is falling behind European counterparts in tram development, which he views as more environmentally friendly and efficient than car and bus travel.

Citing data since 2001, Street pointed out that 21 French cities have introduced tram networks, while the UK has added only three. Leeds remains the largest city in Western Europe without a tram or metro system. He attributed this disparity to the UK’s complex planning processes and stringent regulations that have inflated infrastructure costs, with the expense of laying tram tracks in Britain approximately double the European average.

“This has left cities and towns disconnected and lacking basic transport links, creating a reliance on more polluting modes of transport,” Street wrote in an essay for the Conservative Environment Network. He further noted that 80 percent of urban Britons do not have access to metro or tram services, a stark contrast to just 10 percent in Germany, which restricts access to jobs, education, and leisure, thereby limiting productivity and economic expansion.

Leeds has long been identified as a key candidate for tram network reinstatement, dating back to the closure of its original system in the 1950s. Plans for a new “supertram” were first proposed in the early 1990s. Although the government announced funding for the project in December 2025, the timeline has slipped, with construction now expected to commence around 2028 and completion not anticipated until the early 2030s.

Last week, Angela Rayner, another Burnham ally, urged the central government to cease overruling West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin’s proposals for a tram network in the region, highlighting ongoing tensions over local control.

Street also highlighted how regulations established three decades ago require utilities such as pipes and cabling to be relocated before tram tracks can be laid, a process that can constitute about one-third of the overall construction costs. This, he argues, adds unnecessary financial and logistical burdens, slowing down delivery and expansion of urban tram systems.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.