Planning expert's Metro election call

Extending and upgrading the Metro system should be a key manifesto commitment from the main political parties vying for Number 10, a regional planning expert has said.

James Hall, partner at planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore, called for the parties to pledge financial support for taking the Metro to new areas in Northumberland, South Tyneside and Wearside.

He said new links to former coalfield towns such as Ashington and Washington could make a big impact on the prosperity of the region.

James said: “By opening up new lines to underserved places we can make jobs in centres of employment like Newcastle and North Tyneside more accessible.

“This could really stimulate growth in the regional economyandmeannewhousing can be better distributed.

“It could also help to alleviate some of the pollution challenges Newcastle City Council has been trying to address.

“This is a really big opportunity to create material change in the North East – and the main parties should get behind it.”

He said the Conservatives’ suggestion that city regions would get funding to make local transport connections “as good as London’s” was positive but bold and called for more detail on how Labour would support local public transport infrastructure.

On housing, James said: “The Conservatives say they intend to change planning rules so that things like roads, schools and GP surgeries are in place before people move into new homes.

“That might sound sensible, but it could put large housing projects in jeopardy as house sales provide the capital to reinvest in infrastructure.