Member Article

Combined Authority rail scheme on track to deliver growth for Liverpool City Region

Liverpool City Region’s long-term rail strategy has been given the go-ahead by the area’s Combined Authority.

The scheme aims to ensure that the rail network meets the needs of the City Region over the next 30 years, as well as supporting its ongoing economic growth and regeneration and its potential contribution to the wider UK economy

An update on the One North report, commissioned by the five Northern Core City Regions to identify the infrastructure required to better connect them, has been presented to the Combined Authority. A detailed strategic investment plan will now be developed to deliver the project.

The City Region Combined Authority has established its own campaign to secure a dedicated link to the HS2 high speed network, and has encouraged all City Region partners to work closely with the ‘Linking Liverpool’ campaign.

The Combined Authority also awarded £232 million to the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), to be invested in the City Region. This is part of the Growth Deal funding which set out the Government’s funding commitment against strategic schemes as well as new freedoms and flexibilities in local priority areas.

The LEP has engaged with local authorities and Merseytravel to assess the next steps in delivery the Growth Deal.

Over £180 million of the funds secured are related to the transport scheme, while £31million has been secured for skills capital funding. The remaining funding will be used establish a Growth Hub as well as supporting the International Festival for Business in 2016.

Since the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority was established, a number of external discussions have been taking place with other Northern Combined Authorities and the Local Government Association with regards to how the Liverpool City Region can collectively build the case for greater devolved political and financial powers, share learning and build the case for the North.

The Government is consulting on what further powers should be devolved to local areas through the Northern Futures consultation. The Combined Authority will be responding formally to this consultation, which concludes on 17 October 2014.

Councillor Phil Davies, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, said that the latest meeting clearly demonstrated “the extensive work that has been carried out over the last few months and how we are working together across the whole of the City Region to deliver economic growth, transport improvements, creating employment opportunities as well as attracting funding”.

He added: “We are also developing a strong network across the Northern region, as well as with other Combined Authorities, and we will continue to share best practice and deliver real benefits for the Liverpool City Region as a whole”.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .