The flagship Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme connecting Manchester with other major Northern cities is among the major infrastructure projects Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng has promised to 'accelerate' as he vowed that construction work would start on dozens of schemes by the end of next year.
The high speed rail scheme was one of 138 set out in the Government's new 'plan for growth' mini-Budget which the Government insists can be sped up by cutting red tape and reforming planning laws.
It comes weeks after Prime Minister Liz Truss promised to build Northern Powerhouse Rail "in full", marking an apparent change in position from her predecessor Boris Johnson whose £96bn rail vision saw the scheme downgraded.
The Conservative Party’s manifesto for the 2019 General Election promised to “build Northern Powerhouse Rail between Leeds and Manchester and then focus on Liverpool, Tees Valley, Hull, Sheffield and Newcastle.”
As it stands there will be new high speed lines between Warrington, Manchester and Yorkshire, ending near Marsden, and upgrades to existing rail lines, and some stations, on the remainder of the route. Most of the project due to be completed in the 2030s and 2040s.
The Chancellor's reference to the scheme has raised hopes construction work could start sooner, though it remains unclear what version of NPR Ms Truss's government is currently committed to.
According to a document released by the Government, the aim is to get "the vast majority" of the 138 infrastructure schemes starting construction by the end of 2023.
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It says: "These projects may benefit from acceleration through planning reform, regulatory reform, improved processes or other options to speed up their development and construction, including through development consent processes.
"Presence on this list does not guarantee, where applicable, funding, planning consent or approval for other regulatory or permitting processes and the list is non-exhaustive of all projects which may benefit from acceleration."
Other listed projects in Greater Manchester include the Transpennine Route Upgrade connecting Manchester, Leeds and York, where construction has already started, an unspecified item described only as 'Manchester improvements' and a new bus corridor between Rochdale, Oldham and Ashton.
Road schemes included in the list are the A34 Cheadle – Handforth Improvement Plan Phase 1, A6042 Manchester Safer Road Scheme, A579 Bolton Safer Road Scheme, A676 Bolton Safer Road Scheme and A583 Manchester Safer Road Scheme.
There was skepticism among about whether the announcement would help deliver NPR in full as Northern leaders have called for.
West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin said: “The Prime Minister promised during her leadership campaign to deliver Northern Powerhouse Rail in full, highlighting the benefit for Bradford in particular, and today’s rail announcement falls far short of that promise.
"Accelerating existing proposals is not the same as delivering on long-promised plans, and we remain clear that delivering Northern Powerhouse Rail in full means building a new line between Manchester to Leeds with that vital stop in Bradford, and a new line from Leeds to Sheffield to enable HS2 trains to reach Leeds."
Professor Juergen Maier, vice-chair of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said the Government risked undermining its new 'investment zones' by failing to tackle challenges such as inadequate transport infrastructure, poor education outcomes and low skill levels.
He said: “A real plan for growth would focus on the longstanding barriers to productivity, such as the full delivery of Northern Powerhouse Rail and investment in innovation - but these were notable by their absence."
Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton Kevin Hollinrake warned ministers about the need to maintain investment in the north of England alongside their tax-cutting agenda.
He asked: “Can he confirm, as he seeks to balance the books in the future, because of course there will be a higher deficit either way on this announcement, he will not do so by cutting infrastructure investment in the North?”
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