Liverpool2 ‘more important than HS2’
LIVERPOOL’S £300m deep-water terminal is a bigger economic opportunity for the North West than HS2, according to a report by commercial law firm Brabners.
In the North West Ambitions report, Peel Ports chief executive Mark Whitworth says Liverpool2 – the Port of Liverpool’s container terminal – has the potential to create major change in UK distribution activity, attracting manufacturers and logistics businesses to be based in the region.
Brabners, which has launched the report to mark its 200th year in legal practice, is calling for enhanced public sector support for the asset.
It says Liverpool2 and the wider £1bn Superport logistics cluster must be championed as key asset for the Northern Powerhouse.
Whitworth, said: “Liverpool2 is far more important to the region than HS2. The North West is going through a renaissance and the role of Liverpool2 as an international gateway for trade is absolutely vital to that.
“We see the pros and cons of HS2 and, in principle, any investment in connectivity is welcomed, but not if it’s at the expense of other developments that may be more of a catalyst to investment and job creation.”
Brabners corporate partner Mark Rathbone added: “HS2 and HS3 have become major talking points in the Northern Powerhouse policy and yet those schemes are many years away from providing meaningful value. In contrast, the assets that make up Superport, such as Liverpool2, are ready and waiting to be exploited now.
“The potential to create a seismic shift in UK distribution activity must be capitalised on with policies and development that attract more investment to the North West. A key part of this is to make Liverpool2 a much more visible feature of the Northern Powerhouse campaign at a national level.”
