The East Midlands region has been promised a huge economic boost with a £2.7bn multimodal transport plan published this week (May 28).
The plan has been developed and published by a number of councils, transport bodies and East Midlands Airport and covers improved rail, bus and tram networks as well as enhanced road infrastructure.
The Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP has said the plan will guarantee fast, frequent connections to the HS2 East Midlands Hub station at Toton, and accelerate post-Covid-19 recovery and renewal.
Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Newark, Matlock, Mansfield and Long Eaton are among the villages, towns and cities that will gain direct access to the HS2 station.
The three-phase plan, with the first phase set for completion by 2030, align with the work of the East Midlands Development Corporation, to deliver 84,000 highly-skilled jobs and 4,500 homes in areas close to the HS2 Station at Toton.
The entire project is expected to be complete within 25 years, with phase two featuring a new railway station at East Midlands Airport and phase three including a housing development and rail links to the South Derby Growth Zone.
Elizabeth Fagan, chair of the D2N2 said: "This is not just a transport plan; it's a blueprint for social mobility, prosperity and long-term economic growth. Having the right infrastructure in place will be a catalyst for regeneration, job creation and homebuilding.”
“Now is the time for us all to work together to secure investment and the commitment to make the most of the high-speed rail network to ensure we deliver a successful future post-COVID-19."
The partnership is now seeking an initial £4.5m in Government funding to bring Phase One of this scheme forward to the next stage of development, including the production of more detailed project designs, engineering solutions and costings.
