HS2 news is boost for Birmingham – property firms
NEWS that the HS2 Birmingham to Crewe link will open six years earlier than scheduled has been welcomed by property consultancies Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) and Savills.
Adam Ramshaw, head of region at LSH, said: “The announcement this morning that the HS2 Birmingham to Crewe link will be
completed six years early is a very welcome one.
“High Speed Rail has an
important role to play in better connecting Birmingham and the West
Midlands to the rest of the country, and the sooner this is realised the
better.
“With Crewe set to be an important rail gateway to the major northern cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Leeds, the early completion of this
line – just a year after the Birmingham – London link and the new Curzon
Street station – will see travel times between Birmingham and the major
cities of the emerging Northern Powerhouse significantly reduced.
“Investment and development in Birmingham is at a high, and it is
imperative that the city is able to capitalise on this.
“Ensuring that HS2 is able to progress as quickly as possible and without delay will be key to ensuring the region’s long-term prosperity. We look forward to hearing more from the Chancellor as the project progresses.”
Barry Allen, head of Savills’ Birmingham office, said: “Birmingham’s time has come both politically and economically. New businesses are already recognising what the city has to offer and both domestic and international investors are actively seeking opportunities to buy into the development potential.
“But if the city is to capitalise on the game-changing opportunity HS2 represents, we need a co-ordinated approach that brings together city council and business interests in working towards 2026 when HS2 is scheduled to begin operation.”
