Northern business leaders call on Prime Minister to back Northern Powerhouse Rail

Leading business figures from across the North of England have called on Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, to give his full backing to delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail in full.

76 business leaders from across the region, including from firms such as Morrisons, Bruntwood, Azets and Manchester Airport, have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister to make the case that modern rail links between the region’s cities is “essential to realising the North’s economic potential.”

The letter, coordinated by the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, argues that building a new high-speed line from Liverpool through Manchester, Bradford and Leeds, with onward connections to Sheffield, Newcastle and Hull, will transform connectivity and productivity in the North. The letter states:

“Northern Powerhouse Rail is the answer. It would put 3.8 million more northerners within 90 minutes of four or more northern cities, more than double the number of people who can reach Manchester Airport within 90 minutes, and add £14.4bn in GVA annually by 2060.”

The signatories stress that this investment would create jobs, attract private investment and drive regeneration, while providing confidence to developers and employers that the North’s infrastructure ambitions are being realised.

The letter adds that NPR should be “radically different to HS2” – developed from the bottom up in partnership with local government and business, using innovative delivery models and focusing on regeneration, housing and growth outcomes first and foremost.

Henri Murison, Chief Executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said:

“It is welcome that the Chancellor and Transport Secretary remain publicly committed to investing in better connectivity across the Pennines. Furthermore, there is no more committed supporter of the long-term opportunity of the North to contribute more to growth of the UK than the Prime Minister himself.”

“The business community is committed to a way forward which matches the available resources to a prioritised plan. We will continue to work constructively to get a solution that whether it be in Bradford, Liverpool or Sheffield ensures they benefit from improvements and new lines where necessary to maximise the benefits and further to the existing investment going on electrification and upgrades between Manchester, Leeds and beyond towards the North East.”

The full letter can be read on the Northern Powerhouse Partnership website.