The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA) has confirmed it is on track to deliver the full £6 million investment available through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF) this year, ensuring that all funding will be fully spent for the benefit of local residents, communities and businesses.
At its January meeting, the DTCCA Board reviewed progress across both programmes and agreed extensions for selected projects following the national six-month extension granted by Government. This will allow projects to complete their work and deliver all planned benefits.
UKSPF and REPF delivering results across Devon and Torbay
The Board heard that hundreds of residents, businesses and community organisations have already benefited from investment to date. Examples include:
- Over 1,000 householdsin South Hams, Torbay and West Devon supported with energy advice, with a further 325 households assisted to take up energy-efficiency measures.
- More than 100 local businesses receiving specialist support to strengthen the tourism sector in Teignbridge.
- 89 young people at risk of becoming NEET (not in education, employment or training) supported in East Devon – exceeding the target by more than 250%.
National delays shortened the original delivery timescales, so the Board approved a small number of extensions to September 2026 to maximise impact and ensure all outcomes are met.
Transport update: multi-year funding settlement confirmed
The Board also discussed preparations for the DTCCA to become the statutory Local Transport Authority (LTA) from 1 April 2026. A phased approach will be taken, meaning transport services will continue as normal for residents throughout 2026/27. This includes:
- Travel Devon staying as the central source of travel information, timetables and journey planning.
- Subsidised bus services and concessionary fare schemes remaining the responsibility of the DTCCA but delivered operationally by Devon County Council and Torbay Council during 2026/27 to ensure continuity and stability.
This approach reflects how closely transport services work together and helps avoid disruption while new arrangements are put in place.
Multiyear Government funding confirmed
The Government has allocated £541.2 million in transport funding for Devon and Torbay between 2026/27 and 2029/30. This consolidated funding pot replaces several previous grants and provides greater flexibility for long-term planning. The majority of capital finding will be allocated to Devon County Council and Torbay Council towards their highways maintenance responsibilities.
As part of the funding agreement with the Department for Transport, a Local Transport Delivery Plan (LTDP) must be developed setting out indicative proposals for use of the funding over the settlement period.
The LTDP will:
- set out how all consolidated revenue and capital funding will be prioritised,
- confirm how funding will flow between the DTCCA and both constituent councils,
- include an indicative capital programme across all modes of transport, covering highways, active travel, junction improvements, and public transport infrastructure and service improvements.
Further details on governance and investment priorities will come to the Board in March 2026.
Cllr David Thomas, Chair of the DTCCA, said:
“We very much welcome the certainty that comes with a multiyear transport funding settlement. It gives us the stability we need to plan ahead and invest wisely across our transport network. This clarity allows us to prioritise the right schemes at the right time and ensures we make the most of every pound for residents. This will help us develop a coherent programme that spans highways, active travel and public transport improvements.”
Cllr Julian Brazil, Vice Chair of the DTCCA, said:
“I’m pleased to see strong progress on UKSPF and REPF across the region. These programmes are delivering real benefits for our residents, from supporting young people to helping households improve energy efficiency, and the extension ensures no community misses out. I look forward to hearing more about how the funding has had a positive impact across Devon and Torbay from officers in the coming months.”
To keep up to date with future meetings, a calendar of meetings can be found on the DTCCA website.