Transport s role in fostering economic growth Corinne Swain, Arup Fellow - Planning
Transformational effects of transport projects e.g. bridge/tunnel crossing Dramatic regeneration of Malmo e.g. Oresund crossing Copenhagen-Malmo 2
e.g. new airport and metro link New Hong Kong airport on artificial island To be cruise liner terminal & urban Redevelopment on old site
e.g. high speed rail network Regeneration of Lille French TGV network since late 1980s Red = new lines Blue = TGV on existing upgraded lines Spreading benefits to hinterland Nord Pas de Calais Schema, 2006
Success factors Clear national and regional priorities Visionary champions Strong governance Integrated forward planning to maximise local connectivity and spin-off development Can we replicate this bold thinking in the UK? 5
Planners contributing to vision and business case Yes we can - HS1 Eastern Approach
7 HS1 Stratford facilitating Olympics & Westfield
HS1 King s Cross facilitating new London quarter Planners contributing to master planning, consents, land deals
National vision a varied landscape Scottish National Planning Framework, 2014 Infrastructure priorities Development planning context Scotland NPF3 Wales IIP NDF proposed England NIP X X 9
National Policy Statements England National Networks (draft) Specific proposals Spatial Ports X X Aviation?? X X By contrast: Nuclear energy Hinckley Point C: planners roles DCO process for applicant Technical capacity building for LAs through PPA
Sub-national vision: high expectations on the LEPs, but the right scale? Strategic Economic Plans prioritising local interventions BUT Difficult to make the case for sub-regional scale investments It will be essential to ensure that there is no loss of momentum as the focus moves to the central section of the East West Rail project from Bedford to Cambridge. SEMLEP SEP A key aim of the strategy will be to improve east west rail connectivity across the Peterborough - Cambridge / London Oxford Triangle and to strengthen links between related business and scientific clusters. GCGP SEP SO WHERE IS EVIDENCE FOR NEXT SET OF NATIONAL PRIORITIES?
Should we be thinking bigger and longer? Alternative futures? Writing stories to help us understand future uncertainties. Opens the mind. 12
An example of a longer term challenge Regional economic balance London benefiting from disproportionate share of public funding for transport Source: IPPR North, Still on the wrong track, 2013 13
HS2 good long term thinking The Y reflects major cities (as seen from commuting hotspots), but is it funnelling more activity into London? A Vision for High Speed Britain DfT, 2013 Source: Spatial Evidence Study, Cecilia Wong & Alasdair Rae for NWDA, 2009 14
Maximising economic spin-offs - UK Central Economic masterplan linked to HS2 station Spreading the benefits to wider hinterland Planners role in place making 15
But what about links with new housing? Examples of positive thinking from Wolfson Prize submissions Peter Hall, David Lock, John Walker HS2 linked Wei Yang Arc of Opportunity 16
Case for greater connectivity between major cities outside London A northern mega-city to counterbalance London? Unlocking agglomeration benefits Edinburgh Glasgow? Bristol Cardiff? Peter Hall, David Thrower, Ian Wray, TCPA Journal April 2014 17
Beginnings of a National Spatial Framework? HS2 + Greater critical mass for counter-weights to London Spreading benefits to wider hinterlands Housing growth points and new garden cities? 18
Sub-national: joining up infrastructure and development planning e.g.tfl/gla proposals for Thames Gateway airport and alternative Heathrow uses Note: Technical and political capacity within Greater London governance system 19
Importance of strong local governance Major city regions outside London: Case for London-style controls over their transport systems Combined authorities to have strategic planning responsibilities Would they benefit from political figureheads? 20
In summary replicating success factors from international examples ClearER national and regional priorities Visionary champions StrongER governance Integrated infrastructure and development planning Delivery CITY REGION SCALE IS CRUCIAL Most action needed here 21