MIPIM UK: Government must ‘speed up’ HS2, says council leader

The Government should “massively speed up” the implementation of HS2 in the East Midlands so the region’s economy can be transformed, a major property event was told today.

Cllr Jon Collins, leader of Nottingham City Council, told an audience of property professionals at MIPIM UK in London that the region collectively needs to put pressure on Theresa May’s Government to bring the project forward.

He said: “We have a massive site at Toton and we have a really big development site around that which can uniquely exploit the massively-improved transport links that HS2 will bring.

“We need to be pushing for an earlier start date than 2030. The best thing that Government can do is massively speed up the implementation of HS2.

“The benefit in economic terms to the region is that much greater than any other HS2 station.”

Jack Kelly, head of external affairs at East Midlands Airport, added: “The truly transformational effect of HS2 is in the eastern leg.

“Victoria was on the throne the last time we did a project this transformational. We have to get behind it.”

Leaders from the East Midlands called upon Queen Victoria and Brian Clough – the only two people to have statues in both Nottingham and Derby – as they positioned the region as an attractive place for investors at MIPIM UK.

The three-day conference is the London arm of the annual international property event Marché International des Professionnels de l’immobilier held in Cannes, France each spring.

In a business showcase event, Derby and Nottingham councils were joined by the local enterprise partnership D2N2, East Midlands Airport and the HS2 Growth Partnership in discussing the region’s assets to an audience of property professionals.

David Ralph, chief executive of D2N2, looked ahead to a new enterprise zone for the region. There are currently three – in Derby, Nottingham and in Derbyshire, which is part of Sheffield City Region.

He said: “There are opportunities for us. The infrastructure is in place for the Nottingham Enterprise Zone – the road is completed, but it’s not open – and we are looking to market that very heavily in the next 12 months.

“Derby’s Enterprise Zone, Infinity Park, will be double its size in the next five years.

“There are further opportunities to provide another enterprise zone across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. My personal view is that it should be in one of the key sector areas.”