HS3 green light is highlight of infrastructure investment
IT HAS not yet been two years since George Osborne first uttered the now ubiquitous phrase “Northern Powerhouse”.
It was heavily leaned on in his Budget today, with the Chancellor saying that over half of the population of the Northern Powerhouse will be able to elect a mayor accountable to them next year.
Moreover, he announced that devolution arrangements evolve and grow stronger with the transferal of new powers over the criminal justice system to Greater Manchester, as well as supporting the establishment of a Life Chances Investment Fund.
“This is the kind of progressive social policy that this Government is proud to pioneer,” said Mr Osborne.
However there remains no devolution deal for West and North Yorkshire.
Tony Reeves, local authority advisory partner at Deloitte, said: “Transport schemes which include progressing the upgrade of the Leeds to Manchester rail link as a first stage in the HS3 plan together with continuing the programme of smart motorway development along the M62 is to be welcomed.
“The detail will be important to establish what is new in these announcements given the existing plans as we electrify the TransPennine line and the M62 programme having been underway for a number of years.
“The lack of devolution deals covering West, North and East Yorkshire is disappointing and we hope to see something emerging in the next few weeks in order to meet the timescales for Mayoral elections next year. Without this there will be major gap in the Northern Powerhouse.”
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The full Budget report, published once the Chancellor sat down, gives further details. It says: “The radical devolution of justice responsibilities will enable Greater Manchester to offer seamless interventions for offenders as they transition between prisons and the community, and to join up public services to tackle the causes of crime and prevent reoffending.”
And with agreements to establish elected mayors in the counties and southern cities too, Osborne added: “North, South, East and West – the devolution revolution is taking hold”.
The Government yesterday announced its plans to commit funds to a raft of projects recommended by the Lord Adonis-led National Infrastructure Commission (NIC), including backing for the HS3 rail project between Leeds and Manchester, with £60m to develop detailed plans to reduce journey times towards 30 minutes, as well as plans for improving links between the North’s other major cities.
It will also explore options for a Trans-Pennine tunnel between Sheffield and Manchester with £75m to develop plans, as well as looking at options to enhance the A66, A69 and the north-west quadrant of the M60.
There plans for significant improvements to roads too, with £161m for Highways England to accelerate upgrades to the M62 between junction 10-12 Warrington to Eccles and junction 20-25 Rochdale to Brighouse.
Mr Osborne said: “I said we would build the Northern Powerhouse. We’ve put in place the mayors. We’re building the roads. We’re laying the track. We’re making the Northern Powerhouse a reality and rebalancing our country.”
