Nottingham tram extension plans win initial approval

Plans to extend the Nottingham tram system moved closer to realisation today with the news that the government has agreed to stump up £437 in PFI credits towards the £578m scheme, paving the way for construction work to start in 2010.

The government has also granted the project Programme Entry, which is the Department for Transport’s initial approval stage.

The next step is for Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Councils to apply for Transport and Works Act approval.

If this is granted, the scheme will move to the Conditional Approval stage, which would allow the procurement process to kick off.

The planned extension of the Nottingham Express Transit system, which opened in March 2004, is to go to Chilwell / Beeston and Clifton, linking directly into Line One at Nottingham station.