Mellor, the UK’s leading manufacturer of accessible buses, proudly hosted Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves at its Rochdale facility today, where she announced a transformative £15.6 billion transport investment for regions outside of London.

The Chancellor was joined by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and Heidi Alexander, Secretary of State for Transport, underscoring the importance of strong local leadership in delivering this unprecedented commitment to improving public transport.

This funding—the largest ever by a UK government for regional transport—will empower mayors and combined authorities to deliver ambitious improvements across buses, trams, and trains, particularly in Greater Manchester, the North, and the Midlands. 

“This is one of the areas in which previous governments have promised most but delivered least,” said Chancellor Reeves. “Now, thanks to changes in our fiscal framework, we have the money to invest—and it’s going to mayors to deliver for their communities.”

The announcement was made at Mellor’s Rochdale manufacturing site—symbolic of the Chancellor’s emphasis on British industry, regional growth, and sustainable transport innovation.

Andy Burnham welcomed the funding as a breakthrough for city regions:

Andy Burnham, Heidi Alexander and Gustavo Marqueta

“This investment gives us the tools to build a truly integrated transport system for Greater Manchester—one that serves all parts of our city-region and connects more people to opportunity.”

Mellor, long committed to designing and building buses that serve smaller towns, rural areas, and harder-to-reach communities, supports this strategy fully.

Gustavo Marqueta, CCO of Mellor parent company Woodall Nicholson Group, said:

 “We were honoured to host the Chancellor, Mayor Burnham, and Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander for this announcement. At Mellor, we build buses that go where others can’t—connecting communities that are too often overlooked. This investment signals real change for people who rely on public transport most.”

With this funding and ongoing collaboration between national government, regional leadership, and British industry, the UK moves one step closer to a truly inclusive, modern public transport network—built to connect every community.