High Speed 2 could create 70,000 extra jobs
A REPORT into the economic impact of a new high speed rail network across the UK says the West Midlands could benefit by up to 70,000 jobs.
Average wages could also go up by £700 as businesses create jobs on the back of improved transport links with the rest of the UK and Europe. Government plans for the ‘High Speed 2’ network will see a new rail service between Birmingham and London that will cut journey times to less than 45 minutes.
The report was commisioned by the Greengauge 21 lobby group backed by several UK local authorities, and carried out by consultants KPMG. It is likely to be the centre of attention at a major conference being held today at the ICC in Birmingham where academics, politicians and business leaders will discuss the the plans that are championed by transport minister Lord Adonis.
However, the Conservative Party last week broke away from talks with the government, shattering hopes for a cross-party consensus on the scheme.
Today’s conference will be opened by Cllr Mike Whitby, leader of Birmingham City Council, who will tell delegates: “When it comes to High Speed Rail 2 we can’t afford not to.
“The UK is one of the most centralised countries in Europe and the recession demonstrated how our economy has an over reliance on services delivered in the South East. HS2 will open up our economy, allowing our regional cities to once again punch their weight and contribute to even more to UK Plc.
“We know that phase one of HS2, London to Birmingham, will deliver a GDP benefit of £2.2bn to the wider West Midlands region and £1.2bn for Birmingham alone.”
Debate about High Speed 2 in the region has centred around the location of the main station serving Birmingham, and whether it will be located near, or just connect to, Birmingham International Airport.
Airport chief executive Paul Kehoe welcomed the Greengauge 21 report, but said he was concerned at the lack of discussion of the location of the main West Midlands station.
He said: “The report outlines the benefits of High-Speed links to city centres and I agree that in addition to a station at or near Birmingham Airport and the NEC, there should be a station in the city centre. A recent survey by the West Midlands Chambers of Commerce indicated that around 44% of Midlands businesses who would use High Speed rail would use Birmingham City Centre, whilst 56% would use an ‘out of City’ station at or near the Airport/NEC.
“The only note of caution that I would raise is that High Speed 2, the company actually charged with looking at a route from London to the West Midlands, has not yet confirmed whether there will be a station at or near the NEC – and we are taking nothing for granted.
“Without such a station, the Airport could be bypassed. Were a High-Speed route to be created that simply took Midlanders to Heathrow, those 20,000 potential jobs could be exported out of the region and the opportunity for further jobs would be lost forever.”
Cllr Whitby is also expected to announce today a bid to make the West Midlands the home of the High Speed 2 network’s engineering and valeting headquarters.
