North held back by a lack of investment

Council leaders from across the north of England have stressed that a green light on HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail is ‘critical to the long term success of the UK and all its parts’.

The Connecting Britain campaign stresses that the North is being held back by a lack of investment into transport infrastructure, arguing that improving connectivity from the Midlands to the North would support economic growth, improve productivity and boost jobs and skills.

Launching the campaign, Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, said: “A green light on HS2 and NPR in full would be a clear signal from the government that it recognises that historic underinvestment in strategic transport infrastructure outside London is a trend that must be reversed if all communities are to be levelled-up and regions rebalanced.

“We will work with the government and the Oakervee Review into HS2, to demonstrate the strength of the economic case for the full and timely delivery of HS2 fully integrated with NPR and other complementary infrastructure schemes in the North and Midlands. For the North, it’s not either HS2 or NPR, it’s both.”

Paul Hirst, chair of Transport and Infrastructure for the Northern Powerhouse Partnership said: “Delivering HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail together is a once in a generation opportunity for the UK and potentially transformational for cities like Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Bradford, Sheffield and Birmingham and also for those like Newcastle, Preston and on to Glasgow in Scotland.
 
“The Connecting Britain campaign launching today has been set up to make sure the Northern Powerhouse and the Midlands get the connectivity they deserve, creating opportunities for young people to secure the skilled jobs and training our businesses need to thrive. Together Northern Powerhouse Rail, HS2 and the wider projects they unlock will be a major factor in rebalancing the economy – making the North and Midlands as prosperous and successful as London - and creating a fairer, more environmentally sustainable UK.”

Connecting Britain is a coalition of business and political leaders who have come together, with one voice, to make a positive case for why the North and UK Plc need HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail delivered together, in full.