Previous Conservative government promised huge cash injection for major rail project between north west cities – but new Labour transport boss says cash is not currently available
The new Transport Secretary has said she is looking again at major transport projects including a previously promised £12 billion fund for a high speed rail line between Liverpool and Manchester and the development of a revamped Liverpool Central Station.
Earlier this year, the previous Secretary of State for Transport, Mark Harper, committed £12 billion towards creating high-speed links between the two North West cities, with the money coming from the cancellation of the northern leg of HS2. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said at the time he believed there was actually £17 billion available.
It was suggested that some of the cash could be used to revamp and expand Liverpool Central Station in order to create a major new transport hub to accommodate new high speed lines. Striking images released in May show how this new station could look.
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But that money was promised by a Conservative government that was heading out of power and speaking exclusively to the Liverpool Echo at Labour’s Conference in Liverpool today, the government’s new transport boss said everything will have to be looked at again – with no promises being made on specific projects at this point.
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Ms Haigh said: “The previous government went round promising money like there was no tomorrow, including all their commitments on Network North. They hadn’t made an agreement with the Treasury so that funding is not practically available at the moment.
“However, we are really conscious of how important that line between Liverpool and Manchester is and the investment in Manchester Piccadilly. So what I am doing a the moment is taking a step back, looking at everything in the round and then we will come forward with a proper long-term infrastructure strategy that serves the country as a whole and makes sure we deliver growth in the areas of the country that need it most, rather than just walking around pointing at marginal constituencies and announcing stations and lines.
“There is not the money that was allocated to HS2 sitting in a pot somewhere. Any transport project that is put forward has to go through the stages of business cases and development and then through the negotiations with The Treasury. I am not making commitments on any individual projects at the moment, we are only nine weeks into government. We will make sure that when we develop the strategy, that is the strategy we deliver – rather than these constant u-turns and promises that just really undermine confidence, particularly in the north.”
The comments could cause some concern for Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, who along with his Greater Manchester counterpart Andy Burnham has laid out a vision for how the cash should be spent, with a hope for new lines between the two cities and revamped city centre stations to accommodate them. The two mayors set up a Liverpool-Manchester Railway board earlier this year.
The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (CA)has already advertised for a strategic partner to work with it on a regeneration plan for the area around Liverpool Central with two clear imperatives. Today we have seen what that regeneration plan could look like for the first time.
The CA wants to address the capacity issues at the hugely busy Liverpool Central, while also looking to create a ‘once-in-a-generation’ opportunity to redefine the wider area around the station and deliver ‘transformational place-based regeneration.’
The area – including Renshaw Street and Ranelagh Street is seen as a potential major gateway between the city centre and the growing Knowledge Quarter that includes the city’s universities, the new Royal Liverpool Hospital and the landmark Knowledge Quarter development.