Business and political leaders, including those from across Worcestershire and members of the WLEP Executive Team, attended a summit to drive forward the Midlands Engine with talks on transport plans to maximise the economic benefits of HS2.
Hundreds of business figures and decision makers, including Midlands Engine chairman Sir John Peace and Business Minister Anna Soubry, gathered at Nottingham Trent University for yesterday’s (Monday 4 July) Midlands Engine Summit.
Set against the EU referendum result, delegates heard how extra funding, a new dedicated investment hub and high profile overseas trade missions were being lined up to get the region’s economy firing on all cylinders.
Delegates also heard how the Midlands Connect partnership, which includes 28 local authorities, 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships, Network Rail, Highways England, HS2 Ltd and the Department for Transport as an associate member, was developing a long-term transport strategy to power the Midlands Engine.
Midlands Connect programme director Maria Machancoses told the summit that a key element of that strategy was to make sure the region had the right road, rail and air links to best connect and feed into HS2 and unlock further growth and jobs.
Peter Richardson, Chairman of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Following the EU referendum result, the importance of HS2 and other large infrastructure projects is greater than ever.
“The Midlands will have three HS2 stations and will also be served in part by the Crewe station so the project is obviously paramount to the future success of the region’s transport network and economy.
“We are already seeing the benefit of Phase 1 with £11 billion of contracts being awarded and new jobs created and we need to see similar benefits for Phase 2 when the line goes north from Birmingham to the East Midlands and beyond.
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The Midlands Engine Summit highlighted the region’s strength and how plans for improvements in transport connectivity, including the construction of HS2, will put our businesses in an even stronger position and increase productivity.
“Worcestershire has a key part to play in the Midlands Engine and the ambitions of Midlands Connect. By working together across the region we can improve local infrastructure and transport times for businesses in the area further to those already seen through current investment including the Government’s Growth Deal and bring further jobs to the Midlands.”
The summit heard that the Midlands had attracted 880 foreign direct investments over the last four years bringing 48,000 jobs and that following the EU referendum, creating further jobs and driving economic growth had never been greater with a focus on increasing exports of goods and services to emerging markets.
But the Midlands also suffers significant transport challenges which can impact on the competitiveness of its businesses and the economy of the wider UK economy.
The strategic transport plan being developed by Midlands Connect to tackle such constraints and maximise the benefits of HS2 is due to be published in March next year and will serve as the transport component powering the Midlands Engine.
