HS2 station at Toton given £1.8m
East Midlands HS2 Partnership will receive up to £1.8m of funding to help realise “the extraordinary potential” of the new HS2 station at Toton, the Transport Secretary has announced.
This cash comes on the back of the government providing Midlands Connect with £25m to develop a transport strategy for the region, as well as investing £1.8bn on the region’s motorways and trunk roads and distributing £1.7bn from the Local Growth Fund.
The government says the additional funding will be used to further develop proposals for public transport connections to the Toton hub as well as improved road access to the new HS2 station.
Proposals also include the development of an innovation campus — creating 10,000 skilled jobs — and 4 new garden villages around the station, driving regeneration and unlocking new housing opportunities. By 2043, the government says that up to 74,000 new jobs will be created, boosting the regional economy by £4bn.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling said: “As the future backbone of our national rail network, HS2 is vital for delivering better connections between our major cities, bringing communities closer together with faster, more frequent services for passengers.
“It will also play a pivotal role in boosting productivity and prosperity across the country, with new and improved stations acting as catalysts for regeneration, jobs, new housing and economic growth.
“Committing additional funding to support the development of a HS2 station at Toton will help drive forward ambitious proposals, ensuring that the region stands ready to seize the enormous benefits of HS2.
Cllr Jon Collins, chair of the East Midlands HS2 Strategic Board and Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “I am delighted about today’s announcement. The additional funding will help us to progress some of the key infrastructure projects that will make our growth ambitions a reality.
“We will continue to work closely with HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport to make sure the forthcoming HS2 Phase 2b Hybrid Bill supports the delivery the Growth Strategy.”
Cllr Kay Cutts MBE, chair of the Toton Hub Station Delivery Board and Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council said: “HS2 at Toton will present enormous opportunities for growth in the Midlands which is home to untapped potential.
“I feel it is particularly important to listen to local people and businesses as we create new garden villages and opportunities for businesses and universities to be developed side by side.
“This is exactly what our plans for Toton will deliver with the backing of government and this additional funding.”
