Member Article

Sir Howard Bernstein tracking HS2 opportunities

Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council, has been named deputy chair of the HS2 Growth Taskforce, established to examine how to maximise economic growth and job opportunities from HS2, the planned high-speed railway to link London with Birmingham.

The independent expert group was set up last month to maximise the economic benefits – including job creation – generated by the flagship rail project and is chaired by Commercial Secretary and former LOCOG boss Lord Deighton.

The government believes HS2 will be a key driver of jobs and growth. Independent analysis commissioned by Greengauge 21 predicts that HS2 is capable of generating up to 22,000 jobs in the next 5 years, rising to a maximum of 50,000 jobs by the late 2020s. The government sees the taskforce as crucial in unlocking this potential.

Lord Deighton said: “HS2 presents a massive opportunity to boost growth in regions across the UK and it’s vital that we talk to business leaders, public sector organisations, local government and the public about how we maximise the benefit to the whole of the country.

“I am delighted to have such a skilled team working with me on the HS2 taskforce. They know the huge benefits large scale infrastructure projects can bring if they are done in the right way.”

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester City Council, welcomed the creation of the taskforce. He said: “HS2 is vital to the future competitiveness of Manchester in a national and international market.

“Forecasts suggest that the HS2 station at Manchester Piccadilly will create 30,000 new jobs in the surrounding area while the additional high speed station serving Manchester Airport will help unlock up to 30,000 more in the Airport City Enterprise Zone as well as boosting the airport itself.”

Councillor Matthew Colledge, leader of Trafford Council, has also been appointed to the taskforce, while Cheshire-based music mogul and producer Peter Waterman becomes the third North West representative.

As well as his career in pop - he took Kylie Minogue to the top of the charts with “The Loco-motion” - Mr Waterman has run a number of heritage railway maintenance companies, including the London & North Western Railway, once the largest privately owned company of its kind.

The HS2 Growth Taskforce is to publish an interim report later this year, with its final report to government due early in 2014.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .