MIPIM: Manchester city council chief executive Sir Howard Bernstein has called for an integrated approach to infrastructure improvements.
Speaking at MIPIM at the HS2: Driving Economic Growth Panel, he said that the “business as usual” approach won’t benefit Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield and that projects need to move forward seamlessly.
“HS2 trains will arrive when they arrive but we have to work on the city centres and get them ready.
“For example, there is no point knocking around Manchester Piccadilly station and then doing it again a few years later for HS2.”
Leeds city council’s Tom Riordan said: ‘To get the true economic impact of HS2, you have to get it integrated into other infrastructure decision making for cities like Bradford, Wakefield and York.
“With not much tweaking – electrification projects, for example – there can be benefits on existing rail lines too.”
Sir Howard said he also wanted to make the case for starting construction simultaneously in the North and South in order to speed up delivery of HS2.
stacey.meadwell@estatesgazette.com
For all news, comment, analysis and our daily editions from MIPIM visit our MIPIM microsite
