HS2 and its effects on Sheffield
HS2 and its effects on Sheffield
What is it?
I am chatting about HS2 and its effects on Sheffield. But firstly what is HS2, I hear you ask? Well, it is a new high speed railway linking up London, the Midlands, the North and Scotland. It is serving over 25 stations, including eight of Britain’s 10 largest cities and connecting around 30 million people.
The construction of the new railway is split into three phases – Phase One linking London and the West Midlands; Phase 2a linking the West Midlands and the North via Crewe; and Phase 2b completing the railway to Manchester and Leeds.
How does it work?
By building a new railway line, HS2 takes fast trains off the existing railway and places them on to their own dedicated tracks.
This is better connecting our major towns and cities. Of course, this then allows slower, local trains to bunch up on the existing lines. Which then frees up space across the country for many more commuter services and freight trains.
Economic Growth
HS2 is set to bring transformational economic growth to cities and regions across the UK. There are some huge development opportunities which it could unlock. One of those areas is Yorkshire!!
The positive impacts HS2 are believed to be ‘very positive for Sheffield City Region’. The economic benefits of high speed rail come not just from the productivity benefits of faster journey times. It is also the regeneration that occurs around the stations and the access to a larger labour market enhanced connectivity creates. But, that’s only part of the economic story.
It is not just about speed
HS2 isn’t just about the speed of travel between cities. It’s around increase capacity, and therefore a focus on integrating it into the regions current transport networks is key to enabling growth.
This connectivity is key to Sheffield but not just from HS2. It is also between the East and West which ‘is as, if not more, important’ than the improved connectivity to the capital. Ensuring strong linked to Manchester and Liverpool in the West and Hull and Leeds within Yorkshire can only aid economic growth. It is all aiding the Northern Powerhouse Initiative.
It’s vital that HS2 is accompanied by drastically improved services to Leeds and Manchester. Whilst HS2 also remains key to staying competitive and attracting investment. Sheffield has recently attracted Boeing Airlines, McLaren Automotive and retail giant Pretty Little Thing to the region, and inward investment conversations are now ‘at an all time high’.
HS2 is certainly aiding those conversations. With the transformation of the city set to boost the number of those living in the region, whilst creating jobs and development sites throughout Yorkshire.
2018
2018 started plans on what the Sheffield station and the surrounding area will look like. There were major opportunities for regeneration around the Sheaf Valley. This is also linking different modes of transport and ensuring future capacity for growth in passenger numbers is not compromised.
Promoting the Parkway station serving South Yorkshire will ensure HS2 growth is realised across the wider region. Whilst ensuring appropriate local connectivity is in place for all areas including Doncaster Sheffield Airport. There is also a new Rail College in Doncaster and this will be key to providing the innovative and future proofing education. This is much needed for students and the younger generation within Sheffield.
The most successful cities, right across the world, are those that benefit from good connectivity and HS2 will deliver that. Often people don’t think about the conscious decisions that businesses make when choosing where to locate. But connectivity is without doubt one of the leading factors.
Being accessible to customers, suppliers and a skilled workforce is crucial for any business to success. There is already evidence of big businesses choosing to leave the capital. They are then relocating to other parts of the country with good road, rail and transport links.
Sheffield area
Sheffield City Centre and the towns and businesses surrounding it such as Rotherham, Barnsley and Wakefield, will be able to draw talent from across the East Midlands and West Yorkshire. Even further afield once the infrastructure is in place. This will make the region a hugely attractive area for businesses to set up.
The importance of infrastructure between between northern cities such as Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and Hull could help challenge the dominance of London.
HS3, or Northern Powerhouse Rail, is not an extra but it’s actually central to the vision of transforming the rail network in Yorkshire and help to re-balance the economy!!
This is definitely putting Sheffield and other Northern areas on the map of importance to the UK’s economy.
Be back soon
We will keep bringing you up to date information about Sheffield, I Squared Properties and what we are up to and new developments we are taking on.
Speak soon
Laura and James
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