Statement from Clare Hayward MBE, DL Interim Chair of the NP11 and Chair of Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership, in response to the cancellation of the HS2 Manchester link.
“The cancellation of the Northern leg of HS2 represents the loss of billions of pounds of economic growth over the coming years.
“While the North stood to gain significantly from HS2 – with the potential to double the economic output of Greater Manchester to £132bn by 2050, delivering 96,000 jobs and 16,800 homes – the real loss is to the UK as a whole.
“This news will affect the confidence of investors, domestically and internationally, undermining the hopes and aspirations of people and businesses.
“Northern Powerhouse Rail and HS2 are designed to work in tandem, complementing one another and together they would deliver an unparalleled economic boost to the country.
“We will be looking very carefully at the details coming out of the Prime Minister’s announcement and are keen to meet and collaborate with Ministers to ensure that the UK can benefit from the untapped potential of the North.
“Ultimately improving the capacity of our rail network is vital; especially if we want to improve quality of life, enable our climate goals to be achieved and realise the UK’s ambitions for transformed growth and productivity.”
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