VIDEO | How can rail unlock Northern growth?
Railway lines alone are not enough. Maximising the benefit of large-scale infrastructure through the creation of jobs and homes and linking communities together must be at the forefront of future plans, according to speakers at a roundtable hosted by WW+P.
Earlier this month, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the government’s support for a new rail link between Liverpool and Manchester, via Warrington and Manchester Airport.
Those close to the project suggest its economic impact for the North West could be somewhere in the region of £90bn.
Participants at this roundtable gathered to discuss what needs to be done to ensure the potential of the line is maximised.
Find out more by watching the video at the top of this page, or on the Place North YouTube channel.
Key takeaways
- A fresh way of funding large rail infrastructure projects in the UK, perhaps through a value capture mechanism, is required to ease the burden on the state
- The North’s rail ambitions must not end with the Liverpool to Manchester line. Connections onwards to Leeds and the North East, connecting the North’s largest cities, are required
- Backing for the Liv-Man rail link was secured in no small part thanks to the Metro Mayors of Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester – a tick in the box for devolution.
- One of the most exciting opportunities the Liv-Man rail line presents is the chance to double down on brownfield development. There is scope for significant regeneration around stations in Liverpool, Warrington, the airport, and Manchester city centre to be unlocked by the line.
Participants:
- Jane Healey-Brown – director – Arup
- Ian Wray – honorary professor and fellow at the Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place – University of Liverpool
- Beccy Hutchinson – public affairs manager – Manchester Airport Group
- Andrew Dixon – head of high-speed rail -Manchester City Council
- Adam Brown – associate – WW+P
- Suzanne Mathieson – project director – Mott MacDonald
- Steve Hunter – service manager – Transport for Warrington
- Chair: Dan Whelan – deputy editor, Place North West
To learn more about WW+P, visit www.wwparchitects.com
