Leeds to become a global centre for high speed rail research, development and skills

Work is due to start within the next year on plans by the University of Leeds to set up a world leading high speed rail institute.

Professor Peter Woodward, Chair of High-Speed Rail Engineering at the university, told the events Leeds session that the institute hopes to be open in 2020.

The institute, which will be co-located alongside the HS2 depot planned on the outskirts of the city, will boast the world’s most advanced testing facilities for high speed rail, including for rolling stock, he said: “That puts Leeds on the global map for high speed rail and gives a catalyst to develop the UK’s high-speed rail offer.”
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The institute would help Leeds to become a global centre for high speed rail research, development and skills, Woodward said: “For Leeds city-region and west Yorkshire, this will be a catalyst to spark innovation and job growth in the north.”

He said the new centre will benefit from its location at the centre of a cluster of rail businesses, including the Hitachi plant at Newton Aycliff, and Bombardier at Derby. It is also sited near to the mooted site of the city’s new advanced manufacturing park. 

Alan Reiss, Director of Police, Strategy & Communications at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, told delegates that HS2’s backers must be more vocal about the boost that the scheme will deliver for the region’s economy: “It’s happening but it needs to be fought for and we need to do more to make that argument. If you look at HS2 alongside NPR and other plans for improving productivity, the arguments become much stronger.”

Angela Barnicle, Chief Office for Economic Development at Leeds City Council agreed: “HS2 will shrink the size of the north in commuting terms: it will make it much easier to live in west Yorkshire or the east side of Leeds and work in Manchester or Liverpool. If you compare what recent graduates can afford in London and parts of the north building a career in the north starts to become an even more attractive proposition than now.”

Barnicle revealed that market testing had indicated a ‘lot of interest’ in private finance backing for a planned revamp of Leeds Central station, which will also be the northern terminus for HS2: “Clearly, the station needs a significant upgrade: it certainly isn’t a world class experience for people like Channel 4 and Burberry.”

Although its ‘far too premature’ to see any boost to the property market like that which has already been experienced in Birmingham, but Leeds is not waiting until HS2 arrives in 2033 to improve the city, as ‘half a billion pounds is being invested in the city centre’s infrastructure, which will result in substantial change’ in the next five years. 

These improvements include reducing city centre traffic by downgrading arterial roads and starting work next year on a 3.5 ha park, whilst work is also set to commence on 2,000 new homes on South bank, the 253 ha site, which HS2 will cut through to reach Leeds station.

These works will allow the construction of HS2 to begin in about 2025 and ensure that the city’s rail network remains open.

 

PBA, now part of Stantec; Our perspective of the Leeds Hub:

We think that the Leeds City Region is making good progress with its preparations for HS2.

There is a strong level of joined up thinking, and the good collaboration between Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, strongly supported by the Leeds City Region LEP and the Chamber of Commerce is well placed to get the planning right for the city and its sub-region.  We understand that there is strong cooperation with HS2, and with Network Rail and Transport for the North who have secured funding for the various preparatory studies to be undertaken.

Shortly after the publication of initial proposals, LCC/WYCA managed to convince HS2 that the Leeds HS2 station should be fully integrated with the existing station, rather than located some 500m to the south as in the original scheme.  This will significantly increase the degree of connectedness in the centre of the City.  But care is needed to ensure that Leeds doesn’t end up as a location that people are travelling through and merely making connections.

We are conscious that WYCA produced the “Planning for Growth: The Leeds City Region Connectivity Strategy” late last year, and this seems to us to be a solid start to establishing the Leeds location in its own right.  It set out some ideas to support the development of the Inclusive Growth Corridor Programme to shape the future connectivity pipeline across all modes of transport serving the Leeds City Region.  It also tackles the economic and transport challenges facing West Yorkshire, to complement future strategic infrastructure including HS2 and NPR.  We support its recommendation to set up a working group to oversee the development of the emerging City Region Transit Network.

This needs to focus on the strategy’s objective to develop a high capacity, fast and frequent local public transport system connecting the main urban communities with employment areas. Part of the proposed solution is to deliver a mass transit system within the core urban areas of West Yorkshire, providing the opportunity to innovate by using new and emerging technologies, and so set an example for the rest of the UK

This means that they need to double-down on their vision of what the City is about, and why the strong connections across HS2 and the other public transport services, whether rail or not, needs to be clearly defined.  We think the authorities have a good track record here already, with an impressive showing at MIPIM in Cannes last year.  The opportunity for this to support the economy of the city, with a message to business that is about an accessible workforce and excellent connections to the rest of the Country, and, via airports close to HS2 beyond, must continue in the same vein.

The Leeds City Region HS2 Growth Strategy is the place for this, and it should tackle all aspects of the HS2 proposals, but emphasising:

o   connectivity between HS2 and the region, which now also includes active support for Northern Powerhouse Rail and the trans Pennine route proposals

o   the station itself as a new gateway.

o   Regeneration plans including the well-known Leeds Southbank, it is currently estimated that HS2 could spark up to 300,000 new jobs and £54bn to the region’s economy

o   transforming the City Region economy by inward investment, business and supply chain development, this focuses not only on Leeds but includes Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Wakefield and York

o   and the more general “Inspiring our People” concentrating on skills and education, many specifically created to support HS2 such as the National High Speed Rail College in Doncaster railway research at the university of Huddersfield and a High Speed Rail engineering centre of excellence with testing facilities at Leeds University.

 

The Leeds Integrated Station Master Plan, is now ready as a concept design and approved by stakeholders, needs to be tested against the reality of what businesses and growth is most attractive for Leeds.  Although HS2 remains some time away in terms of delivery, we consider that the importance of getting the groundwork right now cannot be over-emphasised.
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