30.11.17
HS2 to spark productivity drive in Midlands, leaders say
Businesses in the Midlands have today stated that improved transport connections created by HS2 will reduce inequality between high and low performing regions and push forward productivity growth.
In a report published by HS2 Ltd today, mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street alongside chairman of Midlands Connect Sir John Peace both have argued that joining up different parts of the UK will allow for a greater pooling of people and capital around the country’s separate regions.
The report, which will be unveiled later today in Nottingham, also argued that the new high-speed rail line will drive world-leading skills and research in the north and Midlands which will bring these areas up to the same standard as London.
“HS2 will play a critical role in correcting that imbalance, particularly as it is fully integrated with the strategies for both Northern Powerhouse Rail and Midlands Connect,” HS2 Ltd CEO Sir David Higgins said in the report.
“A combination of more capacity and better connectivity will improve accessibility and, therefore, productivity in both regions – at the same time as helping to ease the pressure on London.
“HS2 will itself offer significant opportunities to those supply chains and, through the new High-Speed Rail Colleges at Birmingham and Doncaster, will leave a lasting impact on the UK skills base.
“Its longest lasting legacy, though, will be helping that process of joining up the dots between where we are now, and where we could get to as a country – the process of rebalancing the national economy to get the best out of each and every part of Britain.”
Mayor Street added that HS2 offered “the biggest opportunity for our region in a generation,” as it puts the Midlands at the heart of a national high-speed rail network.
“But there are so many other benefits. It provides us with the opportunity to transform our transport links within our region, to make the most of HS2,” he claimed.
“Our vision is that nobody in the West Midlands will be more than 40 minutes away from a HS2 station by public transport.”
And Peace stated: “The Midlands economy is built on a strong advanced manufacturing base and is enhanced by a wide range of sectoral strengths, universities and research centres.
“Midlands Connect and Midlands Engine are seizing on the once in a generation opportunity HS2 brings to drive growth for the region, through improved connectivity within the region as well as beyond.
“We will create a thriving environment for businesses to flourish and HS2 is critical for us to do that.”
Maria Machancoses, director of Midlands Connect, will be writing about what the Autumn Budget means for the region in terms of rail infrastructure in the next edition of RTM (Dec/Jan).