Ministers have been called on to reassess rail plans for the North of England after the Government admitted it has failed to carry out a levelling up assessment of the Integrated Rail Plan (IRP).
The IRP, which was published in November, saw the plans for a new railway across the North, Northern Powerhouse Rail, downgraded and the eastern leg of HS2 up to Yorkshire, scrapped.
The plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail had been developed for several years, on a cross-party basis, by political and business leaders across the North.
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However, Northern leaders said the plan fell short of what they had agreed was required to "unleash the full economic potential of Northern towns and cities".
Last month, the Government published a 'Technical Annex' for the IRP which sets out the 'criteria framework' for assessing different options in the plan.
The annex states that this includes "Levelling up impact" which should be assessed through a "description of potential impact of transport investment on the wider economy".
However, later in the document it states that: "Given the early stage of development of the options under consideration…it has not been possible to fully assess their impacts on the wider economy."
Mayors Andy Burnham, Steve Rotheram, Jamie Driscoll, Tracy Brabin and Dan Jarvis have written to the Prime Minister, Chancellor, Levelling Up Secretary and Transport Secretary challenging the Government to open a new assessment process with Transport for the North (TfN).
This process would openly assess both the IRP and the rail plan put forward by Northern leaders to see which would achieve the greater impact in ministers’ central mission - levelling up the country.
The mayors’ call comes on the day that Northern Leaders are set to meet for the third Convention of the North, in Liverpool.
Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove will address the convention following the publication of the Government’s long-awaited levelling up white paper last week.
In the letter the mayors write: "We find it strange to say the very least that the IRP, the Government’s flagship levelling up policy, has not been fully assessed for its levelling up impact.
"Surely the Government would want to ensure that any major investment of public money achieved greatest impact on its central mission?
"For this reason, we do not believe that the current IRP should be the final word on rail infrastructure for the North. But, in the spirit of making progress, we wish to put a positive proposal to the Government.
"Before going any further, we would ask that the Government commit to establishing an open, bi-lateral value for money assessment process, involving Transport for the North (TfN), looking at two options: the current IRP and the full Northern Powerhouse Rail scheme put forward by TfN.
"To make a meaningful comparison, it is essential that a full value for money assessment for both options is carried out against all five criteria, including levelling up impact."
They added: "The magnitude of the decision on rail investment in the North of England cannot be overstated. It will have a determinative impact on our economy and society for more than 100 years.
"If we didn’t press for the best possible solution, we would be letting down future generations of Northerners. We cannot but conclude the current plan puts unacceptable limits on our ambition for this wonderful part of the world.
"We know that Crossrail will soon open in London. We do not for one moment begrudge our capital city this new east-west line and the huge economic benefits it will bring. We simply ask for the same for the North of England."
