Manchester City Council and Greater Manchester Combined Authority are calling for an overhaul of ‘flawed’ plans for an overground HS2 station in the city.
City leaders have warned the overground HS2 hub would not help regeneration efforts and would instead create an unattractive and inefficient station, unable to cope with future growth.
HS2 Crewe-Manchester Bill is set to have its second reading in parliament today, with councillors arguing that an underground station could address these issues and provide more future flexibility.
Together the city council and combined authority will submit a ‘petition’ objecting to measures in the Bill and calling for changes which must be considered as it progresses through parliament.
Manchester City Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig said: ‘It’s true that an underground station would cost more initially. But over the years it would deliver enormously more economic and social benefits not just for Manchester but Greater Manchester and the north of England as a whole.
‘This is absolutely not an argument against HS2 – the extra capacity it will create on our clogged rail network is vital and could be a real stimulus for jobs and investment.
‘HS2, with Manchester as its northern hub, has the potential to unlock a wealth of positives for the region and help rebalance the UK’s economy. But if it’s not done properly we will be counting the costs for many decades to come. It’s not too late for Government to engage with us instead of dismissing the case for an underground station out of hand.’
An overground station would take up around half a million sq m more development land than an underground station which could have been used to create an estimated 14,000 jobs or green space.
It’s also thought the development could disrupt existing jobs and businesses within the construction zone and be an unsightly installation.
Analysis by the council suggests that an underground station would provide £333m extra a year to the city by 2050 than an overground station which would immediately be at full capacity.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, said: ‘The current HS2 proposals would fail to deliver the major rail improvements successive governments have promised, while providing the wrong solution for Manchester Piccadilly.
‘It’s the wrong solution because it will be at capacity from day one, it won’t be future-proofed, and it takes away Manchester City Council’s aspirations to have economic growth around the station.
‘We have always supported HS2 and will continue to do so. But the Government needs to reconsider its proposals for Manchester Piccadilly or it risks wasting a once-in-a-century opportunity to level up.’
In related news, the government has confirmed the HS2 Golborne Link, which would connect trains to Scotland, will be scrapped, after concerns were raised as to how this would impact local areas.
Photo by William McCue
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