The Deputy Chair of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, David Williams, joined business and community leaders in meeting with Government HS2 Minister Nusrat Ghani MP, on a visit to the LEP area, to discuss maximising potential economic benefits from the UK’s planned high speed rail line.
Ms Ghani’s visit (pictured above) was hosted by Bridgeway Consulting Ltd of Riverside Way, Nottingham, which is providing ground investigations and engineering surveys to prepare for the HS2 line between London and Birmingham. Through its contract with HS2 Ltd, the company has been able to create new jobs and upskill 60 employees across a range of disciplines.
Those meeting the Minister, in addition to D2N2 Deputy Chair Mr Williams, also included leaders from East Midlands’ local authorities, Broxtowe MP Anna Soubry; and representatiives from the Department for Transport, the Railway Industry Association, Midlands Connect, and East Midlands Chamber.
The D2N2 LEP – the private sector-led Partnership which promotes economic growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – is backing the proposed HS2 Phase 2b line, or ‘eastern leg’, planned to be built through the LEP’s area, to open in 2033. It will include major development along its length, including an East Midlands Hub at Toton and an HS2 maintenance depot at Staveley, north Derbyshire.
The East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy publication, published in autumn 2017, sets out how economic development connected to and associated with the HS2 line through the LEP area could deliver an additional 74,000 jobs and almost £4billion of GVA for the region, by 2043.
Following the D2N2 area meeting (on Thursday February 7) HS2 Minister, Nusrat Ghani MP, said: “HS2 is already underway and supporting more than 7,000 jobs at 2,000 businesses, including 300 companies across the Midlands.
“Once built it will be a catalyst for regeneration in the region. The East Midlands HS2 Growth Strategy predicts it will add nearly £4billion to its economy and around 74,000 jobs.
“We will continue to work closely with local authorities and businesses as we drive this ambitious project forward, to ensure that the East Midlands benefits from the full potential of HS2.”
Co-founded in 1995 following railway privatisation, Bridgeway Consulting has grown to be one of the UK’s leading consulting and contracting companies.
Pino De Rosa, Managing Director of Bridgeway Consulting Limited, added: “HS2 is a once in a lifetime infrastructure project that will transform opportunities for the people of the Midlands and the North, and we’re proud to be working on it. So far the project has enabled us to create a number of job and training opportunities within our organisation and going forward it will give us the confidence to further invest in our people, equipment and technology.”
For more information on the plans for the HS2 Phase 2b line CLICK LINK HERE. For more on Bridgeway Consulting Ltd see its website at www.bridgeway-consulting.co.uk/
Media wanting more information about this article can contact Phillip Roughan, D2N2 Social Media and Marketing Officer, on 0115 957 8250 or email: Phillip.roughan@d2n2lep.org
