HS2 is set to bring transformational economic growth to cities and regions across the UK – and we’ll be discussing the huge development opportunities which it could unlock at the HS2 Economic Development Plans Conference. One of those areas is Yorkshire – and as more details emerge of the positive impacts HS2 could have we hear from some of the key stakeholders and leaders within the Sheffield region.

Julie Dore, Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, is a long supporter of HS2 who believe it will be ‘very positive for Sheffield City Region’. The economic benefits of high speed rail come not just from the productivity benefits of faster journey times but also the regeneration that occurs around the stations and the access to a larger labour market enhanced connectivity creates. But that’s only part of the economic story.

HS2 isn’t just about the speed of travel between cities, it’s around increase capacity, and therefore a focus on integrating it into the regions current transport networks is key to enabling growth. Julie Dore believes that the connectivity is key to Sheffield but not just from HS2 – but also between the East and West which ‘is as, if not more, important’ than the improved connectivity to the capital. Ensuring strong linked to Manchester and Liverpool in the West and Hull and Leeds within Yorkshire can only aid economic growth, and Dore says the North ‘deserves both’.

It’s vital that HS2 is accompanied by drastically improved services to Leeds and Manchester – whilst HS2 also remains key to staying competitive and attracting investment. Sheffield has recently attracted Boeing Airlines, McLaren Automotive and retail giant Pretty Little Thing to the region, and inward investment conversations are now ‘at an all time high’. HS2 is certainly aiding those conversations with the transformation of the city set to boost the number of those living in the region whilst creating jobs and development sites throughout Yorkshire.

This year masterplanning has begun on what the Sheffield station and the surrounding area will look like – with major opportunities for regeneration around the Sheaf Valley, linking different modes of transport and ensuring future capacity for growth in passenger numbers is not compromised.

Promoting the Parkway station serving South Yorkshire will ensure HS2 growth is realised across the wider region, whilst ensuring appropriate local connectivity is in place for all areas including Doncaster Sheffield Airport, whilst a new Rail College in Doncaster will be key to providing the innovative and future proofing education needed for students and the younger generation within Sheffield.

Paul Griffiths, Managing Director for Phase Two at HS2 Ltd and speaker at the HS2 Economic Growth Conference, says HS2 will bring a positive change, not just to Sheffield, but for the wider city region. It’s a ‘one in a generation’ investment which will deliver huge improvements to rail networks but also ensuring our regions are perfectly prepped for the huge economic benefits which it’s sure to unlock.

The most successful cities, right across the world, are those that benefit from good connectivity and HS2 will deliver that. We don’t think about the conscious decisions that businesses make when choosing where to locate, accordingly to Griffiths, but connectivity is without doubt one of the leading factors. Being accessible to customers, suppliers and a skilled workforce is crucial for any business to success, and we’re already seeing evidence of big businesses choosing to leave the capital and relocate to other parts of the country with good road, rail and transport links whilst the ‘north-shoring’ trend also continues.

Sheffield City Centre, and the towns and businesses surrounding it such as Rotherham, Barnsley and Wakefield, will be able to draw talent from across the East Midlands, West Yorkshire and even further afield once the infrastructure is in place – making the region a hugely attractive area for businesses to set up.

The importance of infrastructure between between northern cities such as Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle and Hull is also reiterated by Paul Blomfield, Sheffield Central MP, who says creating a golden triangle of connected cities would create a region that could challenge the dominance of London. HS3 – or Northern Powerhouse Rail – is not an extra but it’s actually central to the vision of transforming the rail network in Yorkshire and help to re-balance the economy.

To discover further details on the development projects and economic vision for the regions impacted by HS2 make sure you’re at the HS2 Economic Growth Conference in November.