i HS2 Unlocking the benefits West Midlands Connectivity Package ii 2.7 million people live in the West Midlands metropolitan area, the largest urban area outside of London 1 The Connectivity Package will improve regional and local links The High Speed to High Speed Rail Two (HS2) and encourage sustainable Rail Network will growth using the released rail capacity from the West Coast Main Line. Economic benefits will therefore be maximised provide much- across the West Midlands region with capacity constraints on needed additional rail the already congested local transport networks being relieved. capacity connecting Based on international experience of High Speed Rail, the main urban areas implementation of the Connectivity Package to transform the proposed HS2 interchanges into integrated regional of the UK along a transport hubs is fundamental if our businesses are to expand new North-South fast their markets, access a wider workforce and develop local economic networks. Improved connectivity will undoubtedly connection. To capture attract new business and promote innovation across our and maximise the manufacturing and service sectors. distribution of HS2’s The Package will have a positive impact across a range of economic challenges facing Local Enterprise Partnerships potential benefits, (LEPs) in the West Midlands such as slow business cluster authorities across formation, urban youth unemployment and limited access to international gateways. The arrival of HS2 also underpins the West Midlands development plans for Birmingham city centre and UK region have prepared a Central, stimulating further job creation from high-value economic activity in the West Midlands. Delivery of the Transport Connectivity Package will ensure that key locations are effectively linked Package, which will up to HS2 stations overcoming any potential consequences of building HS2 without connections to these places. deliver significant benefits to the region as a whole. HS2 Y-Network York Leeds Bradford Preston WEST YORKSHIRE GREATER MANCHESTER Wigan Bolton MERSEYSIDE Manchester Rotherham Warrington Liverpool Manchester Sheffield Meadowhall Runcorn Airport SOUTH YORKSHIRE Sheffield Crewe Stoke Derby Nottingham East Midlands Hub Stafford Centro commissioned EAST MIDLANDS research which shows Leicester that implementation of Birmingham Birmingham Interchange WEST MIDLANDS the Connectivity Package alongside the HS2 Y-Network is estimated to more than double the economic impact of HS2 on its own, with the Old Oak Common London (Euston) creation of over 50,000 jobs Cardiff Bristol Heathrow Airport HS1 in the West Midlands and an increase in GVA of over £4 billion per year. Key West Midlands Economic Development Areas and HS2 To Manchester To Leeds NORTH EAST N DERBYSHIRE CHESHIRE EAST Biddulph Leek ASHFIELD Kidsgrove STAFFORDSHIRE MOORLANDS M6 newcastle- under-lyme stoke-on-trent AMBER VALLEY DERBYSHIRE MML M1 DALES nottingham EREWASH uttoxeter derby Market WCML Stone Drayton SHROPSHIRE RUSHCLIFFE EAST CC SOUTH DERBYSHIRE STAFFORDSHIRE burton upon trent stafford MML M6 Rugeley TELFORD AND M1 CHARNWOOD WREKIN CANNOCK NORTH WEST CHASE LEICESTERSHIRE telford Cannock M54 SOUTH Burntwood lichfield STAFFORDSHIRE M54 M42 leicester tamworth HINCKLEY AND M6 BOSWORTH Aldridge Wednesfield WCML wolverhampton Willenhall walsall BLABY SHROPSHIRE Bilston sutton Atherstone Wednesbury coldfield M69 NORTH WARWICKSHIRE Hinckley Bridgnorth West Bromwich Nuneaton M1 dudley sandwell M6 NUNEATON Oldbury AND BEDWORTH Brierley Hill HS2 HARBOROUGH Smethwick Bedworth birmingham M6 Stourbridge HS2 Lutterworth Halesowen M5 coventry M6 WYRE FOREST solihull Kidderminster M1 M42 rugby M42 Stourport-on-Severn Kenilworth bromsgrove M45 WCML M40 Leamington redditch Spa Droitwich Spa warwick M5 CC MALVERN HILLS DAVENTRY worcester stratford-on-avon WYCHAVON Enterprise Belt HS2 Phase I M40 SOUTH Regeneration Corridor HS2 Phase II NORTHAMPTON- SHIRE To London Strategic Growth Sites Main Rail Lines CHERWELL Enterprise Zones COTSWOLD Contains Ordnance Survey OpenData © Crown copyright and database rights 2010. Cartography by Steer Davies Gleave 2013 The West 3 Midlands today The West Midlands is working to create The West Midlands has identified thriving communities with dynamic regional and local connectivity as economic networks and a world-class an important feature of its growth higher education system to stimulate strategies, with a need to better link up Over 5.5 million future growth and jobs. Technological labour to jobs and skills; and businesses people live and work in the West Midlands innovation and advanced manufacturing to other businesses and markets. conurbation and are among our key industrial levers, However, existing local rail and road wider travel to work and will enable our region to build on its infrastructure is at capacity costing us area, contributing to strong industrial base. In essence it’s all all time and money. For example, the over 7% of the UK’s Gross Value Added about the West Midlands creating jobs region is seeing a 14% increase in rail and skills which are competitive in a use and congestion on the motorway global economy. network is also critical, particularly at specific junctions leading to regional The Greater Birmingham and centres, for example along the M42. Solihull, the Black Country, Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Attracting greater investment in Partnerships are stimulating transport will be a critical factor entrepreneurship and employment for the continued success of our by removing barriers to growth and region. The introduction of HS2 can fostering regional connectivity. They be the catalyst for connectivity and have identified key assets such as growth, but its impacts will only growth sites, strategic corridors and be maximised if wider connectivity centres and enterprise zones, which are measures are implemented not only strategic at the regional level, throughout the West Midlands. but also nationally, given our location To this end, rail and aviation hubs in the at the heart of the UK with excellent region have specifically been identified access to and from other national to become attractive locations for economic centres. business parks and industrial clusters, A network of manufacturing industries, as well as new housing development. including aerospace in the Black Country and automotive in Coventry, support our local economy. These industries of strategic national importance are increasingly investing Birmingham in research and development. Local population manufacturers can also rely on a well- developed service sector, particularly in Birmingham, complemented by our world-class research centres and 30% universities, for example in the fields of age 19 or under healthcare and advanced engineering. Birmingham, with over 30% of the city’s population aged 19 or under, has the highest unadjusted youth unemployment rate (19%) amongst the UK’s core cities (national average of 15.2%) 4 The connectivity package To maximise the benefits of HS2, • Local rail service enhancements On a typical authorities across the West Midlands • Strategic interchange hubs in main weekday, the have prepared a Transport Connectivity metropolitan area’s centres for onward local connections Package to ensure that the whole transport network • Highway junction improvements and carries a total of 8 region can access the High Speed Rail other local mitigation measures million journeys, Network. The Package will maximise including 1.1m • High quality local bus access journeys in the connectivity and therefore remove morning peak barriers to growth. • Walking, cycling, public realm and wayfinding improvements The Connectivity Package will deliver: The Connectivity Package has been • A “one station” concept in Birmingham prepared as the scheme designs for city centre with a common HS2 have been drawn up. There may concourse, increased passenger therefore need to be some refinement handling capacity and a seamless of the package in light of publication of journey experience for users HS2’s Transport Assessment and more • An effective people mover at detailed design. The key outcomes of the Interchange linking with the Package have been categorised under NEC, the Airport and Birmingham three strategic outcomes: International station • New rapid transit line 1• Capitalising on the network approach connections (Metro and 2• Unlocking growth assets Key public transport SPRINT- Bus Rapid Transit) 3• Linking the West Midlands infrastructure • New rail links and local stations to the HS2 network improvements To Stoke-on-Trent / Crewe HS2 To Derby Stafford Rugeley Lichfield To Mid-Wales To Aldridge Tamworth Shrewsbury Wolverhampton Telford Walsall Sutton Coldfield Perry Leicester To Barr Nuneaton Wednesbury Coleshill West Bromwich Aston Water Orton Dudley Port Jewellery The Quarter Hawthorns Birmingham Sandwell Smethwick HS2 Dudley Galton Bridge & Dudley Interchange Lea HS2 Five Bearwood Hall Interchange Ways Brierley Hill Small Junction 3 Heath University Cradley Heath Bartley Green Kings Heath Coventry Rugby/Northampton To Stourbridge Solihull Junction Stourbridge Dorridge Town Longbridge Whitlocks End Bromsgrove Blythe Valley Kenilworth Stratford- Worcester Redditch upon-Avon Warwick Leamington Spa To Hereford To London Rail improvements SPRINT BRT Rapid Transit / Metro Strategic Interchange Hub 5 The illustrative diagram below shows Y-Network. Enhancements on other lines potential rail service enhancements on will also be made possible, including Over