New report shows HS2 already embedded in Preston's growth plans

A report produced in collaboration with Preston City Council and eight other regional and local authorities has been published by David Higgins, chairman of HS2.

Business leaders in Preston have been quick to recognise the benefits that high speed rail will deliver. Establishing a HS2 growth strategy is recognised as an important element of enabling Preston station to be a driver of economic growth. For a county which underperformed in average growth statistics, it’s recognised as a vital factor to rebalance the local economy and allow Lancashire to compete again.

In the long-term, productivity gains from HS2 could help provide an extra £600m for the Lancashire LEP region and 3,000 additional jobs in Preston and South Ribble. In Preston itself, HS2 could mean 75,000 extra visitors a year, adding £3.3m to the city’s economy annually.

"It provides another major incentive to invest in Preston for office, employment and residential development. It’s the logical next step in terms of building on the current investment and future legacy of the £430m Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal."

HS2 trains will join the West Coast Mainline at Golborne and continue up to Wigan, Preston and Carlisle, cutting journey times between Preston and Birmingham to forty nine minutes (0.49) and Preston and London to one hour and 17 minutes (1.17).

"Much of the early focus on HS2 has been on journey times to London. However, as the Changing Britain: HS2 taking root report and Preston’s work proves, it is the inter-regional benefits and early planning from Councils and Local Authorities to harness these which will transform areas such as Preston in the longer term.”

Edwin Booth, chair of The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership said: “For Lancashire to maximise its role at the heart of the Northern Powerhouse it needs better connectivity including faster, more frequent and higher capacity train services.

"The report also highlights how initiatives like HS2 are fully aligned to other integrated LEP investment programmes such as the City Deal which is set to deliver £400m worth of new homes, commercial districts and transport links in and around Preston and South Ribble over the next decade.”