Government ministers and metro mayors held a discussion in Westminster yesterday (28 July 2025) on the topic of the future pipeline of zero-emission bus orders.
The discussion, which marked the fifth meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel was chaired by the Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, and Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood, with attendance from mayors including David Skaith (York and North Yorkshire), Richard Parker (West Midlands), and Steve Rotheram (Liverpool), alongside the Scottish Government’s Transport Minister, Fiona Hyslop, and Scottish Transport Secretary Kirsty McNeill.
Additional topics discussed include the potential social benefits of the introduction of new zero-emission buses to communities, support of local employment, sustainability and overall inclusivity.
Those in attendance also pledged to commit all money spent on zero-emission buses toward social benefits for both communities and the economy.
The first meeting of the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel took place in Sheffield earlier this year with an aim to solidify the UK’s place as a strong contender in the bus manufacturing sector.
Work is being carried out to ensure that new bus orders support the UK supply chain and deliver sustainable, reliable transport for passengers, with around 60% of zero-emission buses currently being funded through the ZEBRA (Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas) programmes being manufactured by UK-based companies.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, said:It was great to bring mayors together today for the fifth meeting of the bus manufacturing expert panel, where we committed to building a strong pipeline of future zero-emission bus orders.
By mapping out future demand, we’re giving industry the certainty they need to grow – supporting jobs, delivering better buses for passengers, and accelerating our journey towards a cleaner, greener transport system, while delivering our Plan for Change.
The Government announced a number of grants (worth 38 million GBP) to deliver a total of 319 zero-emission buses across a total of 12 cities in England by spiring 2027. Each pound of funding was also matched by a minimum of 3 GBP of private investment.
Of the areas set to receive funding, Nottinghamshire County Council has been provided with 2.3 million GBP to launch 42 new electric buses, Hull City Council will launch 42 new vehicles (worth 3.9 million GBP) and the West of England Combined Authority, who are receiving almost 20 GBP million for 160 buses.
A further 28 million GBP has also been allocated for the delivery of new zero-emission buses in Sheffield and Bradford.
