Prime Minister backs plans for HS3
David Cameron and George Osborne have both given their backing to the development of HS3, a high speed rail network connecting the north’s great cities.
Following calls that previous plans for the second phase of HS2 missed key east-west connections, it is believed that the revised proposal for HS3 could cut journey times from Leeds to Manchester from around 55 minutes, to around 30.
The Prime Minister commented that the project was vital for the UK’s northern economies: “Improving connectivity and reducing journey times between our great northern cities is a crucial part of our long term economic plan to boost business and create more job security for hardworking people. That’s why we are backing HS3.”
The Chancellor, George Osborne, echoed the Prime Minister’s comments and reaffirmed his stance on the proposed ‘northern powerhouse’: “Today we take another big step forward in delivering both the HS2 links from north to south and the HS3 link across the Pennines.”
Phase one of the high speed rail project, linking London to Birmingham, is proposed to open in 2027 and although these are still early days for HS3, an official report is set to be produced in March 2015 and development could begin in the early 2030s. There are also question marks over the costs of the new plans for HS3, as well as lack of clarity over the locations of the stations in Leeds and the East Midlands.
For more news and comment from NovaLoca, visit our blog, or to find a commercial property, you can search thousands of properties for sale and to let here.
