A report has been released detailing nine reasons why business leaders from across the North West say it is vital to the region that HS2 comes off.
Industry organisation High Speed Rail Industry Leaders has published its HS2 North West Voices, bringing together a range of business leaders and politicians from Liverpool to Manchester to Carlisle as contributors.
The reasons outline the “transformational benefits” HS2 – delivered “all the way” to Glasgow - will bring to the North West economy, adding that it will “turbo charge the wider Northern economy, opening up and increasing opportunities for the region’s businesses and communities".
It comes after it was revealed on Sunday that a decision on the controversial Oakervee review into HS2 could be put on hold until after the General Election and the appointment of a new Secretary of State for Transport.
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Here are the nine reasons in full:
1. HS2 will "tackle the capacity crunch on North-South railway"
-John Stevenson, Conservative MP for Carlisle, said that HS2 “is the only way of tackling the capacity crunch and improving journey times”.
-Chris Fletcher, of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said “something radical is needed, and quick” to solve the capacity crunch.
2. HS2 will "help us achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050" - and remove freight from roads
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-Lucy Powell, Labour MP for Manchester Central, described HS2 as “essential” if we are to “deliver net zero carbon emissions by 2050”.
-Liverpool’s Cllr Liam Robinson said that HS2 would create a “national step change… removing 150m HGV road kilometres a year".
-Frank McKenna of Downtown in Business claimed HS2 would relieve city centres “of the nightmare gridlock scenarios we see during rush hour on a daily basis".
3. HS2 will "smash" the North-South divide
For too long, the report said, Britain has suffered from "huge regional imbalances", with productivity in London 40% greater than in the North.
Underinvestment in transport infrastructure in the North West has constrained growth and business productivity, it added.
-John Stevenson MP and Lucy Powell MP jointly said that HS2 is “vital to fundamentally addressing the North-South divide” and that “connecting London all the way to Glasgow” will reduce “inequalities of prosperity and opportunity between the North and the South” and ensure that “every part of our country is firing on all cylinders”, turning cities in the North West into “inter-connected economic powerhouses”.
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-Chris Fletcher of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce said that if you “[a]sk anyone in the North of England for an example of the ‘North South divide’…many people would immediately identify the disparity in spending per head on transport.”
-Mr McKenna said Londoners receive “£2,555 more than northerners” on transport spend.
4. HS2 will reduce journey times
The report outlined what it said will happen to current journey times under HS2:
- Manchester - Birmingham: halved from 88 mins to 40 mins
- Carlisle - London: drop from 3 hrs 15 mins to just over 2 hrs 30 mins
- Carlisle - Wigan: drop from around two hours to 1 hr 24 mins
- Carlisle - Crewe: drop from 1 hr 30 mins to under an hour
- London - Manchester: almost halved from 127 minutes to 67 minutes
5. HS2 will "improve business connectivity and productivity", and bring development and regeneration to the North West
HS2 will provide a step-change in connectivity to the North, bringing people, their skills and businesses closer together to open up markets and create a more balanced economy, the report said.
It cited comments by the following signatories:
- Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, said that “HS2 and NPR will put rocket boosters behind the economy of the North.”
-Pat Bartoli of Manchester City Council said that HS2 would bring a “step change in connectivity to the cities outside of London” and represents “one of the biggest development opportunities in the 海角视频.”
-Philip Cox of Cheshire and Warrington LEP said high speed rail projects “act as a catalyst to economically reposition towns, cities and regions” which would be “attractive to a range of businesses locating for the first time.”
- Chris Fletcher of Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerced said the “spark” HS2 “can ignite in local economies”, claims that HS2 is a “genuinely once in a lifetime” opportunity and that HS2 “will allow currently unthinkable and unattractive commutes to become a reality”.
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6. HS2 will "boost jobs and skills"
-Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central, said that “HS2 and NPR will…open up more opportunities for northern young people, businesses and communities".
-Liverpool’s Cllr Liam Robinson said that “improved journeys are worth…24,000 new jobs through more businesses wanting to locate in our city region.”
-Will Roberts of Alstom’s said the investment “in new technology and skills" would "train a new generation of North West talent".
-Pat Bartoli of Manchester City Council said HS2 “will provide huge job opportunities, both during construction and operational phases. Additional long-term employment opportunities will come from the increased development and investment brought to the city".
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7. HS2 will "drive business growth and increase export power"
-Tim Hawkins of the Manchester Airports Group said that HS2 would “send a practical and symbolic message, demonstrating the importance of businesses from across the North” and that “the ability for Northern businesses to be global” requires “the best infrastructure.”
- Liverpool’s Cllr Liam Robinson said that HS2 is “essential to support the growth of the Port of Liverpool".
8. HS2 will "increase tourism in North West towns and cities"
-John Stevenson, Conservative MP for Carlisle, said “you will see more people from the South of England coming up to the region, not just the Lake District, but also to explore Hadrian’s Wall, South West Scotland and the northern parts of Cumbria".
-Pat Bartoli of Manchester City Council says that “a culturally rich, enjoyable and highly functional city centre is key to attracting and retaining businesses, workers, residents and visitors".
- Liverpool’s Cllr Liam Robinson claimed that improved rail links “will also mean 3.6m additional visitors – business and leisure – every year".
9. HS2 will lead to "more homes and investments in communities"
Chris Cooney of Bombardier Crewe said that HS2 has caused “a real buzz in the town” not least because of the “7,000 new homes by 2043” that are “expected in a new commercial hub around the station".
Pat Bartoli of Manchester City Council said HS2 “will bring…13,000 new homes and 820,000 square metres of new commercial development in the area surrounding Piccadilly".
Liverpool’s Cllr Liam Robinson said it would mean “11,000 new homes to accommodate people in those additional jobs".