The Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority (DTCCA) is investing in transport and skills to improve everyday journeys, widen opportunities for residents, and support local businesses.
At its latest Board meeting, members approved funding for rural road improvements and agreed new arrangements to deliver significant local skills investment, ensuring funding is targeted where it will have the greatest impact.
Improving the resilience of rural roads
More than £1 million has been committed from the DTCCA’s devolved transport settlement to begin the first phase of the Slapton Minor Road Improvement Programme.
The scheme will deliver at least 30 new passing places on narrow inland routes, reducing delays, improving safety and helping keep communities connected, particularly following the closure of the A379.
Funded by DTCCA in its role as Local Transport Authority and delivered by Devon County Council as Local Highway Authority, the project brings together local investment with established delivery expertise.
Many of these roads are currently single-track, with limited passing opportunities, leading to congestion and disruption during busy periods. These improvements will make journeys more reliable and strengthen the resilience of the local transport network for residents, businesses and visitors.
This marks one of the first major capital investments from DTCCA’s transport programme, focused on a clear and immediate local priority.
Investing in skills and opportunity
From September 2026, around £13 million of adult skills funding will be commissioned locally each year, enabling training provision to better reflect local need and priority sectors.
In addition, DTCCA has secured £9.3 million in post-16 capital funding to expand education and training capacity for young people across Devon and Torbay.
As a devolved authority, DTCCA benefits from a higher, guaranteed per-head capital allocation, providing greater certainty to plan long-term investment with training providers and employers. This replaces previous national bidding processes, which often limited the ability to respond to local demand.
Board members welcomed the funding but expressed a desire to maximise its impact, including how to improve transport links to support access to post-16 education across the area. A further report will be brought back to a future board.
The Board also approved the Corporate Plan Performance Framework, the 2025/26 Overview and Scrutiny Committee Annual Report, and the Greater Devon Local Skills Improvement Plan (2026–2029). Members noted the 2025/26 financial outturn and approved the carry forward of underspends and grant funding into 2026/27.
These decisions reflect DTCCA’s ongoing commitment to delivering programmes that improve outcomes for residents and businesses across Devon and Torbay.
Cllr David Thomas, Chair of the DTCCA, said:
“We are delivering real investment for Devon and Torbay, with practical improvements that people will see in their daily lives.
By taking decisions locally we can focus on what matters most, improving how people travel, expanding access to skills and supporting businesses to grow.”
Councillor Julian Brazil, Vice-Chair of the DTCCA, said:
“These latest investments in roads and the local economy are very much welcomed. I’m particularly keen to see the improvements to the minor roads near Slapton carried out. Since the Slapton line was partially washed away over the winter, the impact has been devastating for the community and local businesses.
We’re awaiting a response from the government on Devon County Council’s bid for funding to reinstate the A379 Slapton line, but we’re continuing to call on their support to make it happen. In the meantime, upgrading the inland routes will help support travel around this part of the South Hams.”