Business leaders from across the North of England have issued a striking call to the government, demanding that it delivers HS2 and the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR) in full.
The huge projects, which would connect cities across the north to one another and southern locations using high-speed rail, would 鈥渆radicate鈥 the divide between the northern and southern parts of the country, they claim today.
Published on Thursday in the Backing Northern Powerhouse Rail report, carried out by law firm Addleshaw Goddard and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, were the results of a survey quizzing 5,000 businesses on benefits of the two schemes.
They delivered a 鈥渃lear and urgent鈥 message to the government, 鈥渙verwhelmingly鈥 backing the NPR, which it鈥檚 hoped would link cities such as Newcastle, Hull, Leeds, Manchester and Liverpool.
It stated NPR would create 鈥渕assive鈥 economic growth, allowing young people to access skilled jobs and stimulate overseas investment.
Linking NPR with HS2 Phase 2b 鈥 connecting Leeds and Manchester with the high-speed network 鈥 would provide a significant step to rebalancing the 海角视频 economy, it added.
Perhaps the most striking stat from the report was that no less than 99% of the thousands of businesses asked believe NPR will raise productivity in the Northern Powerhouse.
Northern Powerhouse Partnership director, Henri Murison, said the report 鈥渃onclusively demonstrated鈥 the level of business support for NPR.
He added: 鈥淟inking up the cities of the North with fast, frequent rail connections can deliver a major boost to productivity, creating a Northern Powerhouse as prosperous and successful as the South and opportunities for young people to access skilled jobs right across the North.鈥
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The results, which the partnership said were 鈥渃lear and robust鈥, revealed:
- 99% believe NPR would raise productivity in the Northern Powerhouse - the scheme aimed at boosting local economy across the region.
- 85% believe NPR would increase inward investment
- 75% state a commitment to deliver NPR would allow them to make future investment decisions
- 62% would recruit from a wider geographic area
- 43% would look to expand or relocate to encourage growth
The report comes as the strategic outline business case for NPR is currently being considered by the government, after Transport for the North set out a 拢39bn proposal to revolutionise east-west connectivity.
It鈥檚 claimed NPR, aligning with HS2 Phase 2b, would provide faster journey times, enhanced capacity and greater frequency of services, connecting Liverpool to Leeds and creating business growth, opportunities for young people and attracting investment from companies across the 海角视频 and world.
According to the partnership, it would take the number of people able to reach four or more Northern cities within an hour from 10,000 today to 1.3m.
HS2 and NPR together would mean that the population of the North able to access Manchester Airport within an hour increases from 2m today to 4.7m, and within 90 minutes by 4m to 8.7m - over half of the North's population.
Paul Hirst, head of transport at Addleshaw Goddard, said: "NPR is critical for a future thriving Northern economy, and this report demonstrates how strongly this sentiment is held across the business community.
"Businesses are motivated by the opportunities NPR will bring, and certainty of investment in NPR by the government will allow them to make key decisions now which will allow their organisations to grow and prosper in the future."
Transport for the North Chairman John Cridland added: 鈥淭o have the North鈥檚 business voices clearly backing NPR is extremely encouraging. But ambitions on this scale aren鈥檛 delivered overnight. We need the communities and businesses of the North to continue championing the critical need for such investment as the programme gains momentum.
鈥淔rom Leeds鈥 fintech industry to the advanced manufacturing sites in the Aire Valley, the North is brimming with opportunity, and through NorthernPowerhouse Rail we can support business growth, new investment, and a robust economy - not just in the North but throughout the 海角视频.
鈥淲e know investing in infrastructure will connect the North like never before and create places where businesses are clambering to invest, enabled by strong transport links. Northern Powerhouse Rail is a key part of that mission.鈥
Rail Minister Andrew Jones said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 brilliant to see widespread business support for NPR, and a recognition of the importance of linking it to HS2.
鈥淲hen it comes to NPR and HS2, it isn鈥檛 an either/or situation 鈥 the North needs both to increase capacity, transform connectivity and unlock economic potential.鈥
Regional director for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) North West, Damian Waters, said: 鈥淚f we are to regenerate our local economies the Government must move forward with both HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail 鈥 implying there is a choice between the two is misleading.
"Better connections between towns, cities and international gateways will assist the North鈥檚 long-term growth, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and bringing new opportunities to our communities.
鈥淭his survey shows businesses are crying out for these improvements聽so it鈥檚 vital politicians keep up the momentum to deliver these plans.鈥
The report will be formally launched at an event hosted by Addleshaw Goddard in Leeds on Thursday afternoon.
