Research Spring 2 017
Great Western Electrification: Unlocking future growth
08449 02 03 04 gva.co.uk Setting the scene
235 miles of railway to be electrified
Over 100 million passengers a year are Future growth in the West of England predicted to travel on Great Western services will also be delivered through local and by 2019, according to Network Rail, in addition national infrastructure schemes that run to road and bus commuting in the region. in parallel to the electrification of the GWML. Investment in road, bus and rail networks is These include Crossrail, MetroWest, Bus Rapid essential to accommodate these growing Transit schemes and proposed investment numbers of commuters to unlock future in additional motorway junctions along the economic growth in key areas along the M49 and M4. Great Western route, ensuring our Core City Our report focuses on four key locations Region remains the only City outside of in the West of England region: Bath, Bristol, London to positively contribute to GDP. Chippenham and Swindon, all of which The electrification of the Great Western will benefit from electrification by having Main Line (GWML) will deliver a significant a commuting distance of under 90 minutes enhancement to the connectivity and capacity to London and enhanced interurban services. of services in the West of England. The project We will examine how transport connectivity, will bring new high-speed electric trains, a major local infrastructure projects, and investment in redevelopment of Bristol Temple Meads and station upgrades (to accommodate capacity Paddington Stations (to be known as Paddington and commuter flow) will play a critical role Place), and modernisation of signals and in unlocking new economic growth and stations along 235 miles of railway corridor. development hot spots in these areas.
Electrification will deliver a significant enhancement to the connectivity “and capacity of services. ”
2 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research The journey Figure 1: Electrification of the Great Western Main Line route and relationship with motorway corridor Cirencester Primary rail Secondary rail Severn Rural rail Tunnel Severn Stroud Fast interurban links between English and Welsh Newport Junction Beach Future rail line M4 capital cities Bristol Wooton Kemble Parkway Bassett Jcn M49
Central The upgraded GWML will run from London to the Severn Tunnel (for Wales). This key corridor Avonmouth Swindon Didcot Cardi Bristol improving line links between London and along an east to west route provides fast Chippenham Parkway M4 the South West and to Wales. Extending from this interurban links between the English and Welsh Rail are radial routes to Oxford, the Cotswolds, capital cities. The route diverges at Wootton Portishead Reading London Birmingham and the South Coast. Bassett Junction, to the west of Swindon, Bristol Bath Spa Paddington towards Chippenham and Bath, and also Temple The core of the GWML is the high speed section Meads at Bristol Parkway towards Bristol Temple from London Paddington through the Thames Weston Meads (see figure 1). Super Valley, Swindon and Bristol Parkway, and on to Mare Source: Network Rail
Timeline of infrastructure and connectivity
The MetroWest Phase 1 Restoration of the Reading project to re-open the roof at Paddington redevelopment Portishead rail line to station begins Network Rail begins project completed Chippenham Station passenger train services Temple Meads Station installing new signalling Hub redevelopment Electrification to redevelopment and Swindon Bus Rapid technology to improve multi-level car park Bristol Temple Meads capacity enhancements Transit system stations from the Severn and 450 additional underway. MetroWest completed Tunnel through to Swansea parking spaces Phase 1 due to be completed
/
M4 Junction 18A and M49 Junction construction M4 ‘smart highway’ Work begins The Highways Agency’s £700m Arrival of Crossrail to commence Completion of MetroWest project to be to modernise project to develop the M4 into services at Phase 2 to increase services completed Reading station Improved Reading station a smart motorway between Paddington station Network Rail electrifies to Yate and new stations at opens with new platforms junctions 3 (Heathrow Airport) South Wales railway to Henbury, Ashley Down and and entrances and 12 (Theale) begins Bristol Parkway North Filton
4 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research Delayed benefits
Government committed to modernising GWML
Following the National Audit Office’s When the project has been delivered in full, November 2016 report, which was highly electric trains are expected to improve reliability critical of Network Rail’s management of the on some of the busiest routes as the trains project, the Government announced that it require less maintenance, reducing carbon was postponing electrification between Didcot emissions by 20-35% at the point of use Parkway and Oxford; Bristol Parkway and Bristol and improving air quality in pollution hot Temple Meads; Bath Spa and Bristol Temple spots such as city centres. Meads; and the branches to Henley and New in-cab signalling will likely improve train Windsor. The postponed work is expected performance by replacing traditional railway to move into the 2019–2024 period, when signals with a computer display inside every Network Rail will have a new funding train cab. Trains will also include a Railway agreement with the Government. Communications System (RCS) which will The Government believes that it can bring provide secure communication between improvements expected by passengers – drivers and signallers. newer trains with more capacity – without The Western Route Journey Time Improvement electrification. Nevertheless, the Government (JTI) Programme is reviewing opportunities to remains committed to modernising the reduce journey times either via a change in GWML and ensuring these improvements calling patterns, rolling stock and/or line speed are achieved. improvements. Network Rail has estimated that Key benefits from the completed electrification the journey time between London Paddington project will enhance reliability, performance and Bristol Temple Meads could see a and capacity of services. Projects completed significant reduction of 22 minutes (from 105 successfully during 2016 include the digital to 83 minutes), while the time between London upgrade of large sections of signalling to Paddington and Cardiff could be reduced by improve reliability, the modification of over up to 17 minutes (from 121 minutes to 104). 100 bridges and structures, flood alleviation Increased regularity of services and station work and improvements to the Severn Tunnel. improvements will also improve capacity and reliability on the network.
Figure 2: Journey times along the Great Western Mainline
on on a in ton to
ca arr a e o a s a e arr a e r e re c e a
o a k a
a a
Source: Department for Transport
6 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research
a o a % increase
Paddington 35 093 628 35 724 684 2
Reading 15 673 400 16 339 602 4
Bristol temple meads 9 522 840 10 099 526 6
Bath Spa 5 990 274 6 222 126 4
Chippenham 1 826 343 1 895 980 4
Swindon 3 350 444 3 503 982 5
Kemble 340 766 356 078 4 Station to station
Station improvements enhance connectivity and capacity
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) found that and Wales, which will help boost the Temple the busiest station on the GWML in 2014/15 was Quarter Enterprise Zone as a destination for Paddington with almost 36,000,000 estimated innovation, creativity and digital excellence. entries and exits by commuters, followed by The ORR data found that commuter flow in 16,339,602 commuters in Reading (see figure Swindon and Chippenham stations increased 3). Both stations are undergoing improvements by 5% and 4% respectively between 2013 to enhance passenger facilities and to prepare and 2014. To improve station usage, the for the electrification scheme and Crossrail. on on a in ton to Chippenham Station Hub project has been Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads awarded funding via the Swindon and Wiltshire stations both recorded a 6% rise in the number Local Enterprise Partnership to build a multi-level ca arr a e of commuters o entering a and exiting between car park on both the north and south sides of s a e arr a e 2013 and 2014. Bristol Temple Meads and the station with a link bridge over the railway to surrounding sites fall within the Bristol Temple allow electrification of the line. The capacity r e of re c e Quarter Enterprise Zone, a which is planned to the corridor between Swindon and Kemble has undergo comprehensive redevelopment over been increased by redoubling the track, which the next 25 years, including a new student means trains can now head simultaneously population as o Bristol a k a University invests £300 to and from Kemble in Gloucestershire into million in a new campus at the former Sorting North Wiltshire. Office site – the gateway into the city. Temple Station usage in Bath Spa rose by 4% to Meads Station upgrades a aare under preparation, 6,222,126 commuters between 2013 and including a plan to expand the station area and 2014. Bath Spa station recently underwent increase train services to cater for the growing improvements to enhance station accessibility rail demand in Bristol, where passenger numbers for commuters and electrification could create are expected to increase by 44% over the many opportunities for Bath Quays, which sits next ten years. The GWML provides Bristol with within the Bath and North East Somerset excellent connectivity to London, South West Enterprise Area.
Figure 3: Station Usage
a o a % increase
Paddington 35 093 628 35 724 684 2
Reading 15 673 400 16 339 602 4
Bristol temple meads 9 522 840 10 099 526 6
Bath Spa 5 990 274 6 222 126 4
Chippenham 1 826 343 1 895 980 4
Swindon 3 350 444 3 503 982 5
Kemble 340 766 356 078 4
Source: Office of Rail and Road
8 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research Population growth and Figure 4: Population forecast over 10 years (000s) commercial development Enterprise zones stimulate jobs growth Efficient transport networks can serve to Investment in infrastructure will unlock increase the density of a location by increasing employment in Enterprise Zones. It is estimated the number of people who can access an area that for every £1 billion spent on infrastructure, quickly and easily, expanding the prospective GDP is increased by £1.3 billion and housing pool of talent for businesses in our sub-regional sites, in the right locations, can facilitate Population (000s) economy. Our forecasts for our four chosen accelerated economic growth, according locations show how much population growth to research conducted by Core Cities. we expect to see between 2016 and 2026.
r s a h r h as erse h e ha
2016 2026 Source: Experian, Wiltshire Council
10 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research Figure 5: Enterprise Zones/Areas
Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area Strategic industrial area with focus on storage & distribution, energy & waste and general industrial. Potential for 6,000–12,000 new jobs by 2026.
Filton Enterprise Area Focus on aerospace, advanced engineering and manufacturing. Potential for 7,000–12,000 new jobs by 2026.
Emersons Green Enterprise Area Focus on science, innovation, composites, technology, creative and digital media. Potential for 4,000–7,000 new jobs by 2026.
Bath City Riverside Enterprise Area Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone Focus on creative industries engineering, Focus on creative industries and software, technology and computing. technology with the creation of Potential for 9,000 new jobs. 17,000 new jobs by 2036.
Source: GVA, West of England LEP
12 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research Bristol
Bristol is the largest city in the South West and The West of England LEP states that the Area the 8th largest in England. With an estimated has the potential to create 12,000 jobs by 2026, population of 448,000 people, Bristol is focused on the industries such as aerospace, expected to reach a population of half advanced engineering and manufacturing. a million by 2027, according to Experian. Once completed, frequent MetroBus services The ONS’ Annual Population Survey revealed from the north fringe to the city centre will that almost 81,000 people commute into connect more commuters to Filton in the Bristol each day compared with 55,000 who future and help boost job growth in the commute out of the city, whilst over 120,000 Enterprise Area. people live and work in the city. The Avonmouth Severnside Enterprise Area Bristol City Council recently approved proposals provides a regionally important industrial and to double the size of the Bristol Temple Quarter employment area with significant economic Enterprise Zone by a further 70 hectares to potential to create a further 8,000 jobs. This contribute to funding redevelopment of Temple could be unlocked by a new junction on the Meads Station. The current Enterprise Zone offers M49. Since the Government’s announcement development potential for more than 2.0 m sq for the new junction in 2014, work has been ft of new accommodation for commercial, underway to assess the proposed location of residential, retail and leisure uses and a target the junction. An announcement is anticipated to deliver 2,200 new homes. in early 2017, with work commencing later in the year. Bristol Airport is also undergoing a Key developments in the pipeline include programme of new developments to increase a new hotel development and conference capacity for international visitors to the region. s ft centre; a 12,000 seat Arena, which benefits The development includes expansion of the from planning permission and is set to start passenger terminal, additional car parking construction in 2017; Bristol University’s new and a public transport interchange to campus; and 350,000 sq ft mixed-use enhance connections to and from the city. commercial development at the former Guardian Royal Exchange site (now known as Glassfields). The Zone also encompasses three key business development hubs: Engine Shed, Paintworks and Temple Studios. Bristol City Council hopes the new ‘urban SPACE quarter’ will create 17,000 jobs and regenerate the area around Temple Meads Station. In addition, a planning application has now been submitted that could see the derelict George and Railway site near to the station redeveloped into a home for the expanded Engine Shed Enterprise Hub (Engine Shed 2), which is expected to accommodate approximately 800 new jobs. Filton Enterprise Area, five miles north of Temple Meads, is one of a select group of strategically important employment locations across the West of England that complements the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone. It is located on the north fringe of Bristol and is in close proximity to the M4/M5 motorway. The Filton Area has 50 hectares of greenfield employment land located within the Cribbs/Patchway neighbourhood with further capacity for development of around another 50 hectares on surrounding sites.
14 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research Bath
Bath and North East Somerset has an estimated Shed, The Guild, BathSPARK, TechSPARK, population of 184,000, which is expected to WebStart Bristol, Bristol Games Hub and Invest rise to 193,000 by 2026, according to Experian. Bristol & Bath, providing start-ups in the area with Commuter flow data from the ORR showed extensive industry specific support opportunities. that over 29,000 people travel to Bath every Connectivity between the two cities is essential day, compared with the 55,000 that commute to support the growing technology sector, which daily from the city. Almost 44,000 people live will help stimulate job growth and property and work in the city. Investment in connections investment to these locations in the future. to and from the city is therefore critical to ensure Bath’s Riverside Enterprise Area has been a liveable city that can grow as a place to live designated as a key zone for economic or work. growth by the West of England Local Enterprise Bath & Bristol is the second largest digital Partnership. The £1bn Enterprise Area is made technology cluster in the UK after London, with up of nine riverside development sites and over 60,000 people employed in the industry. aims to create 9,000 jobs, 650,000 sq ft of Firms such as Aardman, Oracle and IBM Sony workspace and 2,500 new homes. At the have helped attract and develop talent, with heart of the Enterprise Area are the North Tech Nation 2016 reporting that the cluster and South Quay projects. The Quays will be recorded turnover of 53% between 2010 home to commercial, residential and retail and 2014. developments, with Bath and North East Somerset Council aiming to create up to The cluster has a strong set of support networks 1,700 jobs by 2019. available to digital entrepreneurs including Bristol & Bath Science Park, SETsquared, Engine
16 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research Swindon and Chippenham
Wiltshire has a population of 680,000 Swindon and Wiltshire’s Growth Deal, which with Swindon representing 32% of the total, includes redevelopment of Swindon’s town according to the 2011 census. Wiltshire centre and rapid transit bus scheme, could is expected to grow to 775,000 by 2026. create up to 3,000 jobs, build 2,000 homes Over 50% of the population is located in and provide up to £80 million of public and the north of the county, between Swindon private investment. and Corsham, which is forecast to grow In Chippenham, our final strategic station to 395,000 by 2026. hub, significant redevelopment of a key Chippenham and Corsham are expected 48-acre employment park was given the to reach a population of 50,000 and 24,000 green light by councillors in September 2016. respectively by 2026 – which together will Alongside 400 residential units, 146,000 sq ft comprise 10% of Wiltshire’s total population. of new employment space, a new hotel and supermarket are planned to be built at Langley More people commute out of Swindon Park, together with a café, public open space each year (25,000) than into the town (9,000), and highway improvements. according to the ORR. Almost 68,000 people live and work in the same local authority. The existing units at the park, currently occupied by tenants, including Siemens, Comprehensive redevelopment of the IXYS and Schneider, would be retained and 20 hectares Kimmerfields site, which is five improved. It is estimated that the Langley Park minutes’ walk from Swindon station is underway development would support the creation of after receiving outline planning permission in 470 jobs and boost Chippenham’s economy. May 2012. This will bring forward 990,000 sq ft of mixed use development of offices, retail In addition, round three of the Local Growth and leisure floorspace. Further phases of the Deal includes an indicative award of a further development will include the transformation £116.3 million funding from 2017 onwards. of the bus interchange to ensure optimum The funding will support a package of road connectivity to the town centre and the and transport infrastructure schemes and a development of a new business district within new science park at Porton Down, creating Swindon. This will provide further employment up to 1,500 jobs and generating around opportunities within easy reach of the GWML. £70 million in public and private investment.
18 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research Other transport projects set for delivery
Commuter flows set to increase
Journeys made to and within the Great Western Bristol’s passenger rail network by ten miles and MetroBus Beach and Easter Compton – crosses the corridor have increased by 23 million – or 40% connect an extra 35,000 people to the railway The long-awaited Bristol MetroBus project M49 motorway, south of the existing distribution – in the ten years to 2007, according to Network network. It will also improve services in other includes three rapid transit routes (Ashton Vale park. A final decision on the location of the Rail. To complement the growing number of areas (Severn Beach line, Yate to Weston-super- to Bristol City Centre, North Fringe to Hengrove new junction is anticipated in early 2017 commuters, there are many wider infrastructure Mare and Temple Meads to Bath corridor) by Package and the South Bristol Link) forming a with construction to start later in the year. projects either planned or already underway to increasing the regularity of services from Yate network that will use high quality, hybrid drive, This new junction will help unlock growth plug into the GWML. to Bristol Temple Meads and the Severn Tunnel single deck vehicles with fast boarding in the Avonmouth/Severnside Enterprise Junction. smartcards. The three schemes in the Bristol Area – the largest brownfield site in Western MetroWest Phases 1 & 2 Europe – opening it up and linking it to other This will reduce dependence on cars for urban area will improve public transport access The much anticipated ‘West of England’ key centres in the South West. Avonmouth, journeys and improve access to employment on key corridors and significantly reduce traffic project is MetroWest Phases 1 and 2, which which is 84 hectares in size, is expected to growth areas. Rail infrastructure projects alone delays. According to Atkins, Bristol’s MetroBus will ultimately deliver half hourly cross-Bristol deliver 3.0 m sq ft of commercial floor space could create up to 1,800 jobs in Bristol by 2030 project could unlock additional development rail services, including reopening the within 25 years, and potential job growth in the growth areas of Temple Quarter and of up to 7,000 jobs at Temple Quarter, South Portishead and Henbury rail lines. of 6,000 by 2026, according to the West of Filton, according to consultancy firm Atkins, Bristol and Filton. The planned route also links England LEP. Severnside, which is 462 hectares which increases demand for residential into major residential development sites at Phase 1 has been delayed, however, it is set to in size, is expected to deliver 14 m sq ft growth and development also coming Hengrove, Bedminster Green and Filton be completed in 2020 with the long awaited of commercial floor space, and potential Portishead line, which will eventually increase forward in these areas. Airfield, with potential to connect to any further development at the edge of Bristol job growth of 12,000 by 2026. near Long Ashton. Bath Transportation project Figure 6: MetroWest route map for phases 1 & 2 M4 ‘smart motorway’ Bath & North East Somerset Council has been carrying out a significant upgrade Cardiff Midlands MetroWest There is also proposed investment in additional motorway Junctions. The M4 will turn into a of the local transport network through the Phases 1 & 2 Bath Transportation Package since 2012. Avonmouth/Severnside ‘smart motorway’ between Heathrow (Junction Enterprise Area Yate The package, which could create up to Severn Proposed Rail Network 3) and the Thames Valley (Junction 12), using Beach Patchway 1,300 jobs includes enhancing Park & Ride Henbury North Filton Bristol Parkway cameras, information signs and signals to London Exisiting rail services (local and sites and upgrading nine main bus routes into St Andrews Filton inter-regional) relieve congestion by varying speed limits, Avonmouth Enterprise Filton Abbey Wood the city, which could provide commuters with Portway P&R Area Horfield Emersons Green improve journey time reliability and road safety. Shirehampton Enterprise Area Services - Phase 1 real time information and improved bus shelters. Sea Mills Ashley Down The Government is also looking at calls for Clifton Down Portishead to Severn Beach (hourly) The Bath Package has increased the capacity Redland a new turn-off on the M4 – Junction 18a – in Montpelier Stapleton Road of Park & Ride for travel into Bath by around Portishead to Bristol Temple an attempt to ease congestion and provide Lawrence Hill Meads (hourly) 40%, will deliver 2,860 spaces, plus consultation Bristol significantly faster and improved access to Bristol Temple Quarter Temple Enterprise Area Bath to Bristol Temple Meads Shuttle on a proposed site for a new Park & Ride east Meads London Bristol’s Emersons Green Enterprise Area. Key Keynsham (Extension to Severn Beach - hourly) of the city to provide an additional 1,100–1,400 Pill Corsham strategic development areas identified within Ashton Gate Saltford * Additional stopping services (Cardiff spaces has been undertaken with a decision Portishead Bedminster* Oldfield Park to Taunton) to call at these the emerging West of England Joint Spatial Parson Street* Plan at Yate and Coalpit Heath would also due imminently. South Bristol Priority New turnback Growth Location Bath Spa benefit from motorway access to Bristol, Services - Phase 2 Swindon & Wiltshire’s Growth Deal Bath “City of Ideas” Freshford Bath, Chippenham and Swindon. Nailsea and Backwell Enterprise Area Weston-super-Mare to Yate As part of Swindon and Wiltshire’s £141m Weston Milton Yatton Extend Weston-super-Mare to Bristol M49 Avonmouth Junction Growth Deal, a series of measures is being Weston-super-Mare Worle Parkway service to Yate with turnback A new junction off the M49 at Avonmouth is part introduced to encourage greater use of J21 Enterprise Area Henbury to Bristol Temple Meads (hourly) of the series of roads improvements announced walking, cycling and public transport across Swindon, including a rapid transit bus scheme. Possible new stations (subject by the Government. The junction is proposed for to business case) the area where Farm Lane - linking Severn This will give commuters faster access to Enterprise zones/areas Swindon town centre.
South West Wiltshire Towns and South Coast Source: Travelwest
20 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research Figure 7: Major infrastructure projects in the West of England Future direction Project Type of project Project status Cost Start date End date
The project will re-open New transport links to unlock future economic growth the Portishead rail line to passenger train We have identified a number of potential commuters by providing more frequent trains to MetroWest services, and enhance Delayed £58.2m 2017 Mid 2020 areas that may benefit from major connectivity Yate, which is set for strategic growth of up to 2,600 Phase 1 local train services on projects that are currently underway or in new homes through the emerging West of the Severn Beach and the pipeline. England Joint Spatial Plan. Bath to Bristol lines Saltford Station Royal Wootton Bassett and Corsham As the MetroWest project gets underway, there has New railway stations at Royal Wootton Bassett and Re-open the Henbury been a local campaign to get Saltford station, Corsham are currently at the feasibility stage. Last Line to an hourly spur which sits between Keynsham and Oldfield Park, year, Wiltshire Council commissioned Atkins to passenger service reinstated. Bath & North East Somerset Council is assess the case for stations in the two towns. It had and increase train reviewing a timetable space for a half-hourly stop “identified markets” for both rail stations particularly MetroWest services to Yate with Proposed £42.3m 2021 TBC at Saltford as part of the new MetroWest service. If in relation to journeys to and from Bath and Bristol. Phase 2 a half-hourly service. Saltford station is reopened, it will be part of phase Forecasts indicate Royal Wootton Bassett station The plans include 2 of the project, which involves an hourly service could carry up to 330,000 passengers per year, new rail stations at on the Avonmouth freight line serving new stations while Corsham would carry up to 400,000 Henbury, North Filton at North Filton and Henbury. The council has passengers annually. The report said that future and Ashley Down estimated that the demand for Saltford station, development plans would be expected to further assuming a two train per hour frequency in each increase passenger numbers. direction, would equal 203,700 trips per annum. M49 Construction of a new “An initial analysis indicated it could be viable to This represents an average of 647 trips per day. Avonmouth junction on the M49 in Planned £25m–50m TBC TBC introduce a new hourly train service between Bristol Re-opening Saltford would help support the Bath Junction the Avonmouth region and Swindon to serve a new Corsham station, with Enterprise Zone and Filton Enterprise Area, and possible extensions to Oxford or Cardiff”, is stated in enhance connectivity for local commuters. This a report, conducted by Atkins on behalf of Wiltshire could also unlock the significant economic Feasibility study to look Council. The report added that the main obstacle development potential of the Broadmead M4 Junction at options for linking to a Corsham railway station is the provision of a Proposed £42m TBC TBC Peninsula, which is being promoted by Bath and 18a A4174 Ring Road with suitable and viable train service. It found that a North East Somerset Council through the Joint the new M4 junction regular direct London service “is not considered to Spatial Plan process. be feasible due to incompatibility with wider rail Ashley Down, North Filton and Henbury industry goals to improve the quality of intercity M4 Junctions Conversion to a Planned £586m–862m Mar-17 Mar-22 services on the Great Western Main Line.” 3–12 Smart Motorway New stations at Ashley Down, North Filton and Henbury are also expected to open as part of Long Ashton MetroWest Phase 2 creating an hourly service on The University of Bristol has said it recognises Bath Transport Development of a these lines, and enhance connectivity for local Strategy Park new Park and Ride Proposed £10 million TBC TBC and Ride east of the city
Source: Travelwest, UK Government, Network Rail, Highways Agency Re-opening Saltford station would help support the Bath Enterprise Zone and Filton “Enterprise Area, and enhance connectivity for local commuters.
22 | Great Western Electrification ” gva.co.uk/research Figure 8: Future areas of growth
Cirencester Could be linked to mainline rail services, easing pressure on Kemble and creating fast link to London.
Ashely Down, North Filton & Henbury New stations expected as part of MetroWest Phase 2.
Portishead Filton The rail line is due to re-open in Plans to double the 2019 improving connectivity. number of tracks Royal Wootton Bassett from 2 to 4. New station at feasability stage. Capacity for up to 300,000 passengers pa.
Long Ashton Corsham Potential new station to New station at feasability improve connectivity. stage. Capacity for up to 400,000 passengers pa.
Saltford Station Campaign to re-open the station as part of MetroWest Phase 2.
Wilton Old station could be re-opened easing congestion at Salisbury.
Source: GVA
24 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research the importance of a new station at Long Ashton. 1,200 homes since 2000. Taylor Wimpey Plans were submitted to reopen the station as part has submitted proposals to develop a further of the University’s Fenswood Farm development, 70 homes alongside the 117 homes already Conclusion which is being promoted through the emerging being built along the Harbour Edge. West of England Joint Spatial Plan process. The The growth of Portishead looks set to continue, proposal could comprise some 1,000 houses, thanks to MetroWest, which will reopen the rail The corridor along the Great Western Mainline consider as locations for sustainable, long-term 129,000 sq ft business floor space and a primary line to Bristol in 2019. The journey would take (GWML) is undergoing significant change with residential growth. Other locations that will be school. The new station would be located up to 17 minutes to get to Bristol, reducing commute growth and pressure for new housing fuelled increasingly connected to the GWML corridor one mile west of the original location. Long Ashton journeys by over 43 minutes by car. The improved by economic investment and development through new stations or capacity improvements currently benefits from public transport services connectivity could also be an opportunity to at designated Enterprise Zones and Enterprise such as Portishead, Cirencester and Long including Park & Ride facilities which are attract businesses in North Somerset to Portishead: Areas around Bristol, Bath, Swindon and Ashton would also support a mix of uses with undergoing an upgrade as part of the MetroBus major employers include Capita and Avon and Chippenham. The economic success of the new floorspace for businesses. scheme, and has two existing bus service region underpins housing growth forecasts. Somerset Constabulary’s headquarters. Transport and connectivity are key drivers of connections to Bristol city centre. Great Western The West of England area alone is considering a economic growth in the West of England. Railway currently operates local and inter-city target to provide 85,000 new homes in the next Continued investment in infrastructure schemes passenger services past the site, linking Cardiff and Local Plan period through the emerging Joint will play a significant role in unlocking further Bristol with Weston-super-Mare and the South West. Spatial Plan. Connectivity and accessibility are new growth in key employment sectors. We The proposed station would positively enhance critical to delivering housing that supports this expect new corridors between rural and urban connectivity to Bristol’s Temple Quarter Enterprise economic development in a sustainable way. Zone. Portishead, which stations to be achieved as a result of the Improvements in capacity and accessibility to enhanced connectivity on the GWML. In Wilton sits on the Bristol new or improved stations will not only support a addition, enhanced inter-urban connections The station in Wilton closed more than 40 burgeoning commuter market across the route, between the key cities in the region will provide years ago but it could be reopened to improve Channel, is one of but also encourage job creation. New locations a wider talent pool for employers as the transport in the area. Many more passengers are “ for residential development will be needed to catchment for those commuting to work will using the county’s rail network, which is up by 24% support this growth in employment and it is grow. This could lead to companies relocating since 2004 at Salisbury and 66% at Westbury. the fastest growing critical to begin planning for change now. from London as workers are retained in places Wilton Parkway station would be on the Salisbury to Re-opened rural railway stations at places such like Bristol, which is the only city outside of Bristol line and would be part of the Trans Wilts route towns in Britain. as Saltford, Royal Wootton Bassett, Wilton and London to contribute positively to GDP. which will run north to south in the county. It could Corsham provide important opportunities to improve journey times between Swindon, Westbury and Salisbury. Plans for a proposed station could allow commuters to use the nearby Wilton Park Cirencester and Ride, easing parking problems at Salisbury In the future, Cirencester could be linked to railway station and raise the profile of the town. The mainline rail services. Cirencester station” was service would also help create a gateway to closed as part of the Beeching Report in 1964, Stonehenge, which received 1.3 million visitors in along with thousands of smaller stations across the 2014. Trans Wilts Rail has said that Salisbury and country deemed ‘unprofitable,’ leaving only South East Wiltshire are set to see major economic services from the nearby village of Kemble. growth with up to 10,000 new jobs by 2031. According to Cirencester Community Railway, the Filton £13m proposals include a new station in Railway electrification work in Bristol is supporting Cirencester at Chesterton and a bridge being built the Filton Bank Four Tracking Capacity scheme, over the A429 at Kemble. The scheme could also which will see the number of tracks between alleviate parking issues in Kemble. A new train line Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood doubled would give commuters a fast link to London. from two to four by 2018. This will mean greater This infrastructure would complement plans passenger capacity and will allow maintenance to for 2,500 houses to be built in the south west of be carried out without disrupting services. To Cirencester that includes creating a community accommodate the new trains, a fourth platform hub at Chesterton Farm. Additionally, promoters of will be built at Filton Abbey Wood station. the redevelopment of Kemble Airfield, Commercial Estates Group (CEG), have also Portishead confirmed that the site will continue to be Portishead, which sits on the Bristol Channel, is one promoted for development of a new village with of the fastest growing towns in Britain. Much of that around 2,000 new homes. growth has been around the Marina where there has been growing demand for waterfront living. Kemble lies four miles from Cirencester with good A consortium of housebuilders, including Crest transport links, two A-roads and a station that is Nicholson and Persimmon, have built around currently being upgraded as a result of the electrification of the GWML.
26 | Great Western Electrification gva.co.uk/research London Birmingham Bristol Cardiff Dublin Edinburgh Glasgow Leeds Liverpool Manchester Newcastle
Published by Bilfinger GVA. 65 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7NQ. ©2017 Copyright Bilfinger GVA Should you wish to discuss the findings of Bilfinger GVA is the trading name of our research in greater detail please do not GVA Grimley Limited and is a principal hesitate to contact: shareholder of GVA Worldwide Limited, an independent partnership of property advisers operating globally. Bilfinger GVA Jo Davis is a Bilfinger Real Estate company. Senior Director, Planning Consultancy 020 7911 5224 [email protected] Daniel Francis Head of Research 020 7911 2363 [email protected] Simret Samra Senior Researcher 020 7911 2303 [email protected] Charlotte Taylor Senior Planner 020 7911 5321 [email protected] Daniel Rich Surveyor 020 7911 5332 [email protected] Philippa McFeat Regional Marketing 020 7911 5439 [email protected]
08449 02 03 04 gva.co.uk/research
This report has been prepared by Bilfinger GVA for general information purposes only. Whilst Bilfinger GVA endeavours to ensure that the information in this report is correct it does not warrant completeness or accuracy. You should not rely on it without seeking professional advice. Bilfinger GVA assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions in this publication or other documents which are referenced by or linked to this report. To the maximum extent permitted by law and without limitation Bilfinger GVA excludes all representations, warranties and conditions relating to this report and the use of this report. All intellectual property rights are reserved and prior written permission is required
from Bilfinger GVA to reproduce material contained in this report. Bilfinger GVA is the trading name of GVA Grimley Limited. ©Bilfinger GVA 2016. 11275