HS2 ‘could delay’ 3,000 jobs for over a decade
ANEW industrial park delivering more than 3,000 jobs in east Birmingham could be delayed for ten years.
HS2 Ltd , the company responsible for building the new high speed rail line, has been accused of preventing work on the high-tech jobs park in Washwood Heath from going ahead.
But it has been urged to think again by Birmingham and Solihull MPs and former MPs from all parties.
Birmingham City Council originally drew up plans for a business park to create 6,500 jobs in the area, which has one of the worst unemployment rates in the country.
But these were threatened when HS2 Ltd announced in 2012 that it wanted the land to create a rolling stock maintenance depot, where trains would be stored and maintained. The council and local MP Liam Byrne (Lab, Hodge Hill) have been fighting to get the park built ever since. The row appeared to be over in February this year when a committee of MPs ruled that HS2 Ltd could use the land, but must make room for a smaller business park which is expected to create 3,000 jobs.
However, Mr Byrne says the company is “dragging its feet” and refuses to agree to give up any of the land while the rail line – due to open in 2026 – is being built.
He has written to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling, warning: “Its ambition seems to be to lock up the whole site for the entire construction phase until 2026 and then hand some nugatory hectares back. This is not acceptable. We need land now.”
And ten local politicians have written to the House of Lords High Speed Rail Bill Select Committee, which is looking at the detailed plans for the new service, urging it to make HS2 Ltd free up the land.
They said: “We are supporters of HS2 and believe it will benefit our city and the country. But what we must not allow is for some of the poorest people in the country to be denied opportunity by an investment that is supposed to help.”
Politicians signing the letter include MPs Jess Phillips (Lab Yardley), Andrew Mitchell (Con Sutton Coldfield), Jack Dromey (Lab Erdington), Roger Godsiff (Lab Hall Green), Gisela Stuart (Lab Edgbaston), Khalid Mahmood (Lab Perry Barr), Steve McCabe (Lab Selly Oak), Shabana Mahmood (Lab Ladywood) and Mr Byrne. Former Solihull MP Lorely Burt, now a Liberal Democrat member of the House of Lords, has also signed it.
An HS2 spokesman said: “We’ve already reduced the amount of land required at Washwood Heath by four hectares (10 acres) and will investigate ways of reducing this further during the detailed design stage of the project.
“We’re looking at how land can be released back for development and jobs in a phased way during the construction process rather than waiting until 2026. Through all of this we are continually discussing these proposals with the affected community.”