A tram route between Nottingham and Derby is one of the proposed ‘high priority’ plans if devolution for the area goes ahead.
The Nottingham tram system will feature an extension to run to East Midlands Airport and the proposed HS2 station at Toton, and potentially on to Derby.
The idea is included in an appendix of a paper concerning devolution for the D2N2 area, which covers Nottingham city, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Councillor Anne Western, leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “Devolution, if it goes ahead, will mean that important decisions about big transport schemes will be taken locally by people who know the local priorities best and that has to be a good thing.
“A submission to Government in September represents a long list of example projects that might be delivered as part of the devolution deal.
“If successful, it is expected that our deal will include an investment pot that could fund important infrastructure projects.
It’s very early days in the devolution debate
“However, these are very early days in the devolution debate and far too soon to be talking about specific projects.”
Picture: Nottingham’s tram network more than doubled in size earlier this year
Last month leaders in Nottinghamshire said they were in the final stages of talks with the Government on a deal for more power, which is expected to include a requirement for the area to have an elected mayor.
Devolution details: Other key parts of the report
As well as the tram route proposal, the appendix of the D2N2 devolution paper also discusses infrastructure ideas of:
- Road improvements for the A1/A46 at Newark and the A61 at Derby
- A study into the potential of a fourth crossing of the River Trent
- Development of the Coalite site in Derbyshire
The devolution proposal also plans to deliver 55,000 new jobs by 2023 and 77,000 new homes by 2020
