Chambers of Commerce representing more than 11,000 businesses in the East Midlands, Yorkshire and the North East are urging George Osborne to bring forward the confirmation and delivery of the eastern leg of HS2.
A letter signed by Presidents and Chief Executives of the chambers for Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire, Doncaster, Sheffield, the North East and Bradford, Leeds, York and North Yorkshire calls for the Government to confirm the route as quickly as possible and accelerate delivery plans.
It refers to KPMG’s research in 2013, suggesting a leg linking Birmingham with Leeds via the East Midlands and Sheffield and then further north through a direct connection to the East Coast Main Line, has the potential to deliver a GDP impact of £4.1bn for the East Midlands, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire.
The Chancellor has said that HS2 is “the great engineering project of our age and it will transform the economic geography of our country.”
Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said HS2 will begin within two years and constructed in full, claiming the General Election delivered a “massive vote of confidence” in the scheme.
The areas along the proposed Eastern Leg of HS2 are already home to some of the UK’s most dynamic and innovative manufacturing and engineering firms, and also boast a strong professional services sector in their cities, a thriving construction sector and a burgeoning creative industries sector, among others.
The letter states that improving links between these businesses will allow them to exploit the benefits of agglomeration, boost success in these key sectors and help to forge an economy that is truly balanced, both geographically and sectorally.
To view the full letter please click here.
