East Midlands Chamber has called for ‘more balanced’ funding allocation that covers the whole region, while welcoming transport infrastructure investment announced for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.
The Chamber’s comments are in response to funding plans unveiled by the Chancellor that aim to improve rail and bus connections across the country through funds opened to regional mayors, including East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) mayor Claire Ward.
Projects expected to benefit include:
- Trent Arc – an EMCCA growth strategy it claims will add £2.4bn to the regional economy with an ‘urban network’ between Derby and Nottingham, comprising sites like the former Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, East Midlands Intermodal Park, East Midlands Freeport and the Infinity Park Investment Zone.
- The Chesterfield-Staveley Regeneration Route (CSRR) – a project linking North Derbyshire with South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
- Improvements to the A614/A6097 in North Nottinghamshire
East Midlands Chamber Director of Policy and Insight Richard Blackmore said: “While improving infrastructure is desperately needed and certainly a welcome boost for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, it’s essential that there’s a fair and balanced approach to upgrading transport links that brings economic growth across all of the wider East Midlands region.
“Projects that would upgrade Leicester and Leicestershire’s transport links must not be overlooked, in just the same way that electrification of the Midland Mainline should not have stalled, but for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire the creation of new jobs, new homes and improved connectivity is a good step forward.”
