The government argues its decision to pivot away from high-speed rail is about spending on ‘transport infrastructure benefitting the local journeys that matter most to communities’.
RIP HS2: Where do we go from here?
21 Nov 23
‘Ironic’ was the word that sprung to mind when the announcement was made that Phase 2 of ‘HS2’ was cancelled. Ironic as the announcement came on the last day of the Tory Party Conference, held at Manchester Central; the city’s former central station.
The government argues its decision to pivot away from high-speed rail is about spending on ‘transport infrastructure benefitting the local journeys that matter most to communities’. In this regard, the recent HS2 6-monthly report to Parliament confirmed that safeguarding on Phase 2a land is to be lifted as soon as possible, whilst Phase 2b will be amended by summer 2024 to enable the Northern Powerhouse Rail (NPR).
It is inevitable that closing the case on HS2 will open a new raft of debates on the redirection of this funding (to the tune of £36bn to the new ‘Network North’ package), but in the meantime, the public is growing weary and northern authorities are left to deal with the fallout. The Government has committed to working with local leaders to agree whether they wish to suggest ‘other uses’ for the additional £12bn to be spent between Manchester and Liverpool, resulting in further delays for these discussions to take place.
The opinions of the main authorities affected has been mixed. Stafford Borough Council are unphased and will continue to press ahead with planned improvements to enhance Stafford Station and regenerate the surrounding area as part of their Stafford Station Gateway “garden community”[1].However, Cheshire East Council has announced they’ll be scaling back on their £48m town centre regeneration scheme[2], whilst pursuing the government for a £11.2m compensation and investment package to claw back benefits they consider have been lost for the town.
The regeneration of Piccadilly in Manchester was focussed on the expansion of Piccadilly Station to accommodate HS2 and NPR. The prospect for realising the proposed masterplan is now in doubt. Transport Leaders across Greater Manchester are calling for an inquiry into the Government’s handling and axing of the most northern leg of HS2[3].
However, whilst the North will certainly feel ‘derailed’ in the short term, the region is able to draw upon some heavyweight figures, with the likes of Andy Burnham unwavering in his commitment to improve Greater Manchester’s rail network. Just this month, TUC and the Northern Powerhouse Partnership (with Burnham in attendance) called for a new “cross-party consensus” on infrastructure investment at a crunch summit following the HS2 announcement.
Whilst Starmer has not promised to reverse the decision on HS2, could the recently reported thawing of frosty relations between him and Burnham provide light at the end of the tunnel? With a general election on the horizon, could a Labour government, if elected, coupled with Burnham’s might, not only keep Northern Powerhouse Rail in sight, but boost it high up the agenda where it belongs?
