NORTHERN POWERHOUSE CONFERENCE: HS2’s chairman has said that the high-speed rail link is already changing the way private investors, as well as local and central government, plan for the future in Britain.
Launching his new report at the Northern Powerhouse Conference 2016 in Manchester, Sir David Higgins said over the past two years the concept of rebalancing the British economy had taken root and people were beginning the process of making it a reality, helped by moves towards devolution.
He said: “Two years on I don’t kid myself that everyone is convinced, but I do think people are much clearer about why HS2 is in Britain’s long term national interest.
“People are much more aware of the need to rebalance the economy between north and south, but also how the increased capacity and connectivity that HS2 will deliver will help achieve that objective.
“They are also much more engaged because they can see how HS2 can improve not just their local transport system, but the economic potential of their area and its attractiveness to outside investment.”
Companies such as Burberry in Leeds, HSBC in Birmingham and Interserve in Solihull are already recognising the benefits of the extra connectivity and capacity that HS2 will deliver and other investors are looking to follow suit, he said.
“Burberry is a global brand,” he said. “It could go anywhere, but it is rooted in the North and by choosing Leeds as its new headquarters it is making a global statement about its confidence in the future of the area.
“HS2 was part of that decision, even though currently it is, not due to open in the city until 2033. That’s strategic thinking.”
However, he warned that the UK infrastructure industry needed a more cost-effective strategy for delivery, citing innovation and technology; fragmentation leading to multiple overhead costs and a lack of co-ordination between design and construction as issues which needed to be addressed.
He said HS2 will adopt a new approach that would transform infrastructure delivery; including incentivising companies to out-perform and early contractor involvement to drive innovation and efficiencies in design and methodology.
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