Burnham confirms Green Book reforms to judge projects by place

Prime Minister Andy Burnham confirmed on Thursday that the Green Book, the Treasury framework for appraising spending projects, will be updated so investments in a single place can be assessed together as one place-based business case, with the full package set out at next week's Budget.

Why it matters: Appraisal rules decide which projects get funded, and judging housing, transport and skills spending place by place, alongside the discount rate cut from 3.5 percent to 3 percent announced last month, strengthens the case for long-term projects outside London that project-by-project assessment has tended to score down.

Data as of UK government press release published October 22, 2026, read in full; the Green Book changes, the discount rate cut and the Budget and fiscal devolution plans are the government's own account, with no independent assessment yet available. Developing item.

The Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, confirmed on Thursday that the Green Book, the official framework used to assess business cases for spending projects across the UK, will be updated to help places build investment plans around a detailed picture of their local economy, so that different investments in one area can be considered together rather than independently, with the package of reforms to be delivered by Chancellor John Healey at next week’s Budget. The change builds on Healey’s decision last month to cut the headline discount rate from 3.5 percent to 3 percent, placing greater value on the long-term benefits of investment, and the Budget will also set out a roadmap for future fiscal devolution, giving regional leaders control over how they allocate a share of some national taxes. A No10 North operation will support local and strategic authorities, including places not currently represented by mayors, to engage with the new process and draft business cases under the updated rules.

Burnham confirms Green Book reforms to judge projects by place

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