Region’s leaders get on board call for ‘unwavering support’ for HS2’s northern routes

Prominent figures from the West Midlands have signed an open letter calling on party leaders to publicly commit to completing HS2 Phase Two in its entirety, alongside counterparts in the East Midlands and the North of England.

Midlands Connect, Midlands Engine, Northern Powerhouse Partnership and Core Cities UK are urging Theresa May, Jeremy Corbyn, Vince Cable and Nicola Sturgeon to offer their “unwavering support” to the project.

They say it is the “only way” to ensure the country benefits fully from a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to drive regional growth and rebalance the economy.

High profile figures from the West Midlands who’ve signed the letter include: Cllr Roger Lawrence, leader of City of Wolverhampton Council, Nick Barton, CEO of Birmingham Airport, Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council; Paul Faulkner, chief executive of Greater Birmingham & Solihull, Matthew Hammond, regional chairman of PwC, Laura Shoaf, managing director, Transport for West Midlands and David Frost, chair of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP.

Delivering HS2 in full would connect eight of the UK’s ten biggest cities, and once integrated with upgrades to the existing rail network, including the Midlands Rail Hub and Northern Powerhouse Rail, all ten cities would benefit from improved rail connectivity, the letter says.

The open letter explains: “HS2 Phase Two will extend the benefits of this vital piece of infrastructure to more than 25 million people – over a third of the UK’s population – across the East Midlands, the North and Scotland.  These people and places should not be denied the job and growth opportunities that HS2 brings. It must continue beyond Birmingham.

“Our support must not flounder or stall.  We must unite to deliver HS2 in full, and we urge you to join us by offering your vocal and unwavering support. Help make HS2 happen for everyone, and help us all achieve our full potential.

“To our party leaders we say – back it, build it, benefit from it.”

HS2 Phase One, connecting London to the West Midlands, received Royal Assent in 2017 and construction is underway.

The business leaders say it has led to record levels of foreign direct investment in to the West Midlands, with more than 7,000 jobs created in Birmingham as a direct result of HS2, and over 100,000 more expected around the new Curzon Street and Interchange stations.

Phases 2a and 2b, connecting the West Midlands to the East Midlands, Crewe, Manchester, South Yorkshire and Leeds, still require parliamentary backing to proceed. Phase 2a is scheduled to receive Royal Assent before the end of 2019, with Phase 2b following in early 2023.

The open letter comes as MPs, business and civic leaders from the West Midlands are uniting with others from across the country today for a parliamentary reception at Westminster to intensify their unequivocal support for HS2. They will be joined by Allan Cook in his first public engagement as chairman of HS2.

Sir John Peace, chairman of Midlands Connect and Midlands Engine, said: “The Midlands and the North are uniting behind HS2, promoting the short and long term benefits and answering the project’s critics to make sure it goes ahead in full.  Securing unequivocal, cross-party support to deliver HS2 in its entirety is essential to the economic futures of the Midlands and the North. Reaffirming the promise of this investment will catalyse growth and business confidence during a crucial transitional period for the country. We can’t afford to let this opportunity slip through our fingers.”

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership chairman David Frost added: “HS2 is an important catalyst for growth and a vital ingredient in the continued economic success of our area, opening up new sites for business development and housing, and improving rail capacity and connectivity in our pivotal location at the centre of the country.

“We have exciting plans to capitalise on the growth potential HS2 brings, including the Stafford Gateway scheme, transforming the area around our county town’s railway station with a range of new development sites, in addition to the key Stoke-on-Trent to Crewe corridor benefitting both the city itself and the wider North Staffordshire economy. It is vital that we have all-party support to make the most the opportunities HS2 will bring.”