Politics
Greater Manchester Votes on Business Rates to Fund Bus and Metrolink Services
Residents in Manchester will see changes to bus and Metrolink services if the measure passes, as the funds target routes serving areas such as Wythenshawe and Salford Quays.
How we reported this
The ballot measure scheduled for September 2026 asks Greater Manchester residents to approve a 2 percent levy on larger commercial properties to raise money for public transport upgrades. The vote covers the ten boroughs under the Combined Authority and would apply to businesses with rateable values above £500,000. Local policy analysts say the levy could generate revenue starting in the 2027 financial year if approved by a simple majority.
Why the vote arrives in 2026
National changes to local government finance have shifted more responsibility for transport to combined authorities. The 2025 Greater Manchester budget paper recorded a £40 million shortfall in bus and tram maintenance. Officials scheduled the referendum after the authority received confirmation that any new levy would sit outside the existing council tax cap rules.
The measure would affect daily travel for people who rely on services between Manchester city centre and outer districts. In Wythenshawe, for example, the additional money is projected to support extended evening bus runs on routes 11 and 109. In Salford Quays the funds could cover track renewal on the Eccles line of the Metrolink, where current timetables already show delays during peak hours.
Evidence from budget documents and local input
Policy analysts cite the Combined Authority’s 2024 transport delivery plan, which states that each £10 million invested in bus priority measures reduces average journey times by four minutes on affected corridors. Community groups in Ardwick and Hulme have submitted written comments to the authority noting that current service reductions have increased taxi costs for shift workers at Manchester Royal Infirmary. The authority’s consultation record shows 1,200 responses received by the June deadline.
If the referendum passes, the levy collection begins in April 2027 and runs for five years. The Combined Authority must publish an annual report on spending within six months of each financial year end. Should the measure fail, existing grant funding remains the only source for the planned upgrades listed in the 2025 budget paper.