MIPIM UK: HS2 should not just be seen as an infrastructure project but as a wider national regeneration project for the UK.
Speaking at today’s HS2 seminar, titled HS2 – linking north and South: what does £50bn buy? Panellists debated the benefits of the proposed high-speed rail network.
Robbie Owens, head of infrastructure planning and government affairs at Pinsent Masons, said HS2 was not just a transport project “it’s much wider than that.” Owens said the select committee was “absolutely determined” to get the most from these infrastructure proposals.
Fellow panellist Beth West, commercial director at HS2 Ltd, said: “£50bn will get us an integral new part of our railway network. But what we all want to know is what additional investment can be delivered to enhance that value? A lot of work has already been done growth strategies, around stations including the Washwood Heath depot in Birmingham.”
However, Owen said he felt that revised plans for Euston would not be seen until mid 2015.
The panel agreed that all involved need to maximise the benefits around planning.
Birmingham city council’s Andrew Round said the city had already reacted to the project such as the Birmingham Curzon masterplan. “There are huge broader economic benefits for the regions. In Birmingham the market has already reacted and land values have already increased there.”
Meanwhile, Jon Lamonte, chief executive of Transport for Greater Manchester, said although it is still quite early to look at benefits in Manchester, he believed that we should now start to look east to west from Liverpool across to hull and up as this area is ripe for regeneration. “If planned carefully we can deliver this as HS2 arrives.”
Owens added: “We need to plan HS3 alongside if not before HS2.”
Speaking about next year’s general election, West said: “There is already been a big commitment on HS2 with the second reading of the bill. Can we please just press on with the project after the general election next year and keep the momentum going.”
For more MIPIM UK news please visit www.estatesgazette.com/mipim
