Royal London has thrown its weight behind Sir David Higgins’ recommendation that HS2 should go via a new station at Manchester Airport.
One of the UK’s leading investment companies Royal London Asset Management (RLAM) has welcomed Sir David Higgins’ recommendation that the proposed HS2 route into Manchester should go via the Airport and released an image about how the station should look.
Left: CGI of RLAM’s proposed configuration for the Manchester Airport High Speed Station.
Part of Royal London Group, the UK’s largest mutual life and pensions company, RLAM owns more than 300 acres of land close to the Airport City Enterprise Zone, known as Davenport Green, which is the proposed location for the Manchester Airport Station.
Said the company’s Head of Property, Gareth Dickinson:
“We strongly share the view of Greater Manchester’s leaders that a Manchester Airport Station offers a major opportunity to boost the economic benefits of HS2 for the City Region.
“We have already written to HS2 Ltd making clear our support for a new Manchester Airport Station and proposed a station configuration on our land at Davenport Green that maximises the opportunity to create new jobs, improves local connectivity and saves money. Our focus is on integrating the station into a modern transport system to attract high profile businesses into Greater Manchester.
“Following Sir David’s report yesterday, we look forward to working with HS2 Ltd, Trafford Council and Greater Manchester’s leaders to agree a station configuration that maximises HS2’s economic potential, improves local connections, and creates a world class business destination for Manchester at Davenport Green.”
The Davenport Green site exceeds 300 acres and is strategically situated close to Airport City and MediPark. The site offers a rare opportunity for international companies to be located in a high-quality landscaped setting, next to a new rural park, at the heart of the City Region’s transport infrastructure.
The inclusion of a station at Manchester Airport would allow RLAM to explore ways to increase from 8,000 the number of new jobs which development at Davenport Green would deliver.