Chamber commenting on Northern Powerhouse announcement

Christian Spence, Research Manager at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

Commenting on the Northern Powerhouse announcement, Christian Spence, Head of Research and Policy at Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, said: “The Transport Secretary has today published plans for £13bn of investment in the Northern Powerhouse, outlining future developments in the road and rail networks of the north of England.

"This is a collection of already-announced initiatives but nevertheless we welcome the scale of proposed investment in this vital area of the UK’s economy.

"Bringing all the projects together into a single masterplan may aid the wider understanding of the aims, but without significant commitment to speedy deliver, the businesses, commuters and residents of the north of England may yet be waiting years, if not a decade or more, before they see the tangible benefits of these plans.

“For Manchester, there are announcements for new platforms at Manchester Piccadilly, the rebuilding of Manchester Oxford Road, the Ordsall Chord and the now nearly completed Manchester Victoria restoration.

"Speed and capacity improvements on the Manchester to Sheffield line and Calder Valley line via Rochdale and Todmorden will be welcomed by many, as will the continued – if delayed – commitment to Trans-Pennine electrification. Road investments such as M60 and M62 improvements, and improvements to the Woodhead Pass and a new Mottram Moor Link Road are all welcome, but speed of delivery must now receive a laser-like focus from government and its agencies.

“This government is announcing potentially high-impact projects, but we must move from perpetual re-announcements for publicity’s sake, and deliver. The north has been waiting many years for investment on this scale: it should not be forced to wait any longer.”