Green Party claims
HS2 defends project against Green Party’s TV claims that the line is “attacking the ancient woodlands”.
INVESTMENT totalling £20 billion will be created off the development of HS2 in the West Midlands, according to a new report published on February 11.
That investment will take place alongside the creation of 175,000 new jobs in the region, says the Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy 2021: The Defining Decade - The Midlands high speed path to recovery, published by the West Midlands Combined Authority.
The report says HS2’s arrival in the region will make it a more desirable location to live in and help to regenerate areas such as Digbeth and Curzon Street.
It also claims that HS2 will help the acceleration towards a zerocarbon West Midlands by 2041, with two new high-speed stations in the region, accessible to two million people, by 2030.
“While the HS2 train may not be here for a few years yet, we are already seeing exactly how major infrastructure investment accelerates regional growth,” said West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.
He explained that 13,000 jobs (including 400 apprenticeships) had already been created across the HS2 project, with more than 300 companies in the region working in the supply chain.
“With thousands of jobs already created, it is now clear that our earlier projections were too cautious. Our latest research suggests the project could eventually lead to around 175,000 new jobs for the West Midlands,” Street claimed. The original estimate was 104,000 new jobs.
The Mayor said that before the pandemic, the West Midlands was the fastest-growing regional economy, with opportunities offered by HS2 key to that.
“Post-pandemic, it is even more vital as an anchor to drive our economy forward,” he said.
HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said: “HS2 will work hand in glove with the WMCA’s HS2 Growth Strategy and local leaders to upskill local people and bring in new investment to the region.”
HS2 Ltd Chief Executive Mark Thurston said the report shows the transformative impact the new railway is already having.
“It also evidences the more farreaching benefits HS2 is bringing to the West Midlands, including attracting inward investment, creating massive regeneration and employment opportunities around the two new stations, as well as providing a cleaner, greener way for people to travel,” he added.
The two new stations are
Curzon Street (near Birmingham city centre) and Interchange (near Birmingham International station and airport).
The development of the Midland Metro to support the new railway was highlighted by WMCA Portfolio Lead for Environment Cllr Ian Courts as an example of HS2’s positive impact across the region.
“HS2 can also play a key role in achieving our climate change targets. One of our next steps is to develop our strategy with Government to show how HS2 can deliver improvements to our local transport network, support our climate change ambitions and further develop our green economy,” he said.