HS2 to drive regeneration says Taskforce report
CITIES in the North and Midlands could become global leaders thanks to HS2, predict key figures from business, politics and trade unions.
The Growth Taskforce, which brings together figures from across the political spectrum and the private and public sectors – from Sir John Rose, ex-CEO of Rolls-Royce to Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC – delivered its recommendations to government today, calling for action now to maximise the economic and social impacts of HS2.
It argues that a ‘business as usual’ approach will not be enough, and calls for the same levels of ambition and collaboration that saw Britain deliver the 2012 Olympic Games. A dedicated minister for HS2 should also be appointed, the authors say, to champion the initiative in government.
The Taskforce’s report, HS2: Get Ready, recommends the steps needed to ensure the whole country shares in the job and business opportunities HS2 will deliver.
The announcement follows Sir David Higgins’ report, published on Monday, setting out how the controversial £50bn project HS2 might be delivered sooner.
The report calls for action now to simplify and join up funding to deliver construction fast around HS2 stations sites. By accelerating regeneration and development of brownfield land on the route the report argues that big benefits will be seen in just a few years. It also calls for city regions to work together to integrate local transport networks.
Targeted plans for local development, combined with a push to build a workforce with the right skills to fill the 25,000 new jobs to build and maintain HS2, will mean local businesses are well placed to win the £25bn worth of contracts that HS2 will generate.
The Taskforce’s recommendations include:
• new local bodies to create tailored growth plans for cities along the HS2 route;
• local leaders and business use HS2 to supercharge their city regions by creating ‘world-leading’ transport links and kick-starting urban regeneration;
• work to begin now to ensure young people understand and capitalise on the career opportunities HS2 will open up;
• help given to British firms to bid for HS2 contracts; and
• ensuring HS2 contracts lead to local job creation, skills development and apprenticeships.
Lord Deighton, taskforce chair, commercial secretary to the Treasury and the former chief executive of London 2012, said: “Like the Olympics, HS2 has the potential to be a great British success story, bringing jobs and growth to the whole country. Our report sets out the common sense steps that we need to take now to achieve this.”
Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester city council and deputy chair of the Taskforce, said: “HS2 is not just a railway. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to take a huge step towards re-balancing Britain’s economy, taking regeneration in cities such as Manchester and across the North and Midlands to a new level.
“It’s imperative that places on and around the lines have dedicated HS2-related strategies for growth and that we establish a platform for early development and regeneration.”
Former Cabinet minister Lord Heseltine added: “The HS2 Growth Taskforce has shown just the kind of thinking needed to maximise growth and unleash the potential of great cities such as Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester and Sheffield.
“The report provides a clear view of what must be done, and equally importantly who must do it, if we are to get Britain truly ready to benefit from HS2.”
Critics of the project argue that HS2 is too expensive and will suck investment and jobs away from the North to London.
Commenting on the suggestion there should be a minister for HS2, Richard Houghton of opposition group HS2 Action Alliance, said: “The only thing high speed about a Minister for HS2 would be the pace at which his or her career would be shunted into the political sidings when it became apparent that unscheduled costs were building with all the momentum of a runaway train.
“HS2 is out of control. Being Minister for HS2 would be the most dangerous job in politics: in charge of a project with every sign of going to two or three times the original budget, responsible for wrecking families and generating property blight, and promoting a fast track for business, talent and jobs lost to London from the regions.”
