Lancashire sets out transport blueprint
LANCASHIRE’s business leaders have unveiled a new report arguing that better transport links could create 15,000 jobs and contribute an extra £685m GVA a year to the economy.
A 48-page stategic transport prospectus produced by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership highlights how through better transport links Lancashire can take full advantage of the government’s aspirations for a thriving Northern Powerhouse.
However, Lancashire is lagging behind some of the big city-regions such as Greater Manchester and Liverpool in that it has not tabled its own proposals to Whithall for a regional devolution deal.
The transport report outlines how the government’s proposals for HS2 and HS3 could transform Lancashire’s role as a gateway to the whole of the North, and says the regeneration of Preston Rail Station could stimulate substantial economic activity across the entire region.
For example by 2037, HS2 could generate the equivalent of £600m additional economic impact (at today’s prices) and create around 3,000 new jobs.
Such a high speed rail link could also help attract up to 75,000 additional visitors (net) annually, which in turn could add some £3.3m to the local economy each year.
Similarly it has been calculated that an expanded and modernised Preston Rail Station could create a total of 7,850 jobs and £324m in GVA over the coming decades.
The report also says road upgrades are needed on all the major motorways which traverse Lancashire including specific stretches and junctions of the M6, M61, M65, M66 and M55.
In addition many major artery roads in Lancashire, including those that are crucial to access areas such as Blackpool, South Fylde, Fleetwood and Lancaster, are highlighted as requiring improvement together with proposals on how to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and alleviate ‘pinch points’ throughout Lancashire.
Another major road scheme outlined includes a potential new River Ribble crossing, to link together the Preston Western Distributor and the South Ribble Western Distributor roads.
Edwin Booth, chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said: “This report clearly shows how both existing and new funding for transport interventions will help us unlock a significant number of new jobs, new housing and new commercial development in Lancashire.
“It also builds on the fantastic investment the LEP has already helped to secure via initiatives such as the City Deal and the Growth Deal, and further sends a clear signal to both government and our northern neighbours about Lancashire’s ambition, appetite and determination to play a key role in the north’s economic prosperity.”
John Cridland, independent chair of Transport for the North (TfN) said: “There is much to do to improve transport capacity and links across the north and making this happen requires an ambitious vision at both a pan-northern and local level.
“We welcome Lancashire’s Transport Prospectus and see it as a clear commitment to our vision and look forward to working closely with Transport for Lancashire and the LEP to build on existing strengths and ensure that every part of the north benefits in the development of the Northern Transport Strategy.”
