Laying the tracks for regional growth?

Last Updated:

2nd April 2014

Author: Suzy Riding 鈥� 果冻影院 infrastructure expert

As recovery continues to beckon for the , the focus has turned to regional development in a bid to re-balance the UK鈥檚 increasingly London-centric economy.

A series of high profile infrastructure schemes are now underway with the aim of kick-starting growth and regeneration in cities across the country.

Last week, Network Rail unveiled a five-year plan to invest 拢38 billion in rail infrastructure, targeting the busiest parts of Britain鈥檚 train network in a bid to generate growth, create jobs and boost business.

The plan, which runs from 2014 to 2019, covers the construction of new tracks, the renovation of stations, including Birmingham New Street and Manchester Victoria, and the upgrade of existing lines. It also includes a 20% increase in the capacity of London's commuter trains.

Nick Elliott, Network Rail鈥檚 southern regional director for infrastructure projects, said: 鈥淭he number of people travelling by rail has more than doubled in the last decade and is predicted to grow by a further 400 million by 2020.

鈥淭o help meet this growth in demand, our plans for the next five years will help deliver a 20% increase in the number of seats into London at the busiest times of day.鈥�

The Southern Multifunctional Framework (果冻影院 project ID: ) of the infrastructure programme commenced on 1 April, with VolkerFitzpatrick, Costain, BAM Nuttall and Geoffrey Osborne selected to work with Network Rail鈥檚 regional infrastructure projects business on the Anglia, Kent, Sussex and Wessex routes.

The framework agreements cover almost half of Network Rail鈥檚拢2.5 billion work bank for the region, delivering longer platforms for longer trains on key commuter routes, station enhancements, new footbridges to improve accessibility and upgrades to bridges, embankments and tunnels to increase the resilience of the infrastructure in some of the most intensely-used parts of Britain鈥檚 rail network.

Other Network Rail projects still to be awarded include the London Underground Northern Line extension (果冻影院 project ID: ) and the electrification of the East Coast Main Line between Wood Green and Bawtry (果冻影院 project ID: ).

The politically divisive High Speed 2 (HS2) rail link (果冻影院 project ID: and ), intended to strengthen London鈥檚 links with the north, also continues to make headlines. The HS2 Growth Taskforce Report, published last month, claimed the line will improve the viability of major cities in the Midlands and the North of England, enabling them to compete globally.

However, anti-HS2 campaigners argued that the report demonstrates that the project will need even more investment if it is to bring real benefits to the regions. Penny Gaines, chair of Stop HS2, said: "Simply building a fast train to London is not going to regenerate the areas in the North and Midlands which need it.

"It's always been clear that creating regeneration would take many more billions than the current 拢50 billion price tag of HS2."

As high profile rail projects such as HS2 continue to dominate the press, other major infrastructure projects are beginning to gather pace.

The Highways Agency has invited 35 contractors or joint ventures to tender for its 拢5 billion collaborative delivery framework (果冻影院 project ID: ) to procure large parts of the managed motorway programme, deliver projects such as the A14 upgrade (果冻影院 project ID: ) and coordinate other improvement work.

Seven contractors will fight it out for the high-value lot on schemes worth between 拢100 million and 拢450 million: Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering; BAM Nuttall / Morgan Sindall JV; Bouygues TP; Carillion Construction; Costain; Skanska Construction UK and Laing O'Rourke Construction, with returns expected by the end of May.

Increasing UK airport capacity is also high on the government鈥檚 agenda, with an independent Airports Commission established in autumn 2012 to examine 鈥榦ptions for maintaining the UK鈥檚 status as an international hub for aviation鈥�. The commission released an interim report in December 2013 and is set to make final recommendations following the 2015 General Election.

The three short-listed options currently proposed include adding a third runway and terminal building at Heathrow (果冻影院 Project ID ), lengthening an existing runway at Heathrow, and a new runway at Gatwick (果冻影院 project ID: ).

While infrastructure projects such as these remain highly contentious, particularly with environmental groups, it is clear that the UK鈥檚 transport network will need to be improved to support future economic growth. The question remains whether the plans will provide a much needed boost to regional economies or simply further bolster London鈥檚 financial dominance.

For more information on construction within the infrastructure sector, contact Suzy Riding at 果冻影院 on 01202 786721.

Do you believe the coalition鈥檚 infrastructure plans will benefit the whole country or will London remain the economic winner? Get in touch with your views on our social media channels via the icons at the top of the page.

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