Coventry’s Very Light Rail plans are delayed due to the rejection of an early funding bid.

Options for possible routes across the West Midlands were considered in the broader VLR initiative, according to the DfT.

The department rejected the commercial strategy and stated that VLR should proceed as a research and development initiative in an email issued the day following the meeting.

In order to receive more financing from the government from a £40 million pot, the VLR project must demonstrate that the system functions as intended under a new funding procedure.