A blueprint for how £13 billion of government investment will help create the Northern Powerhouse was unveiled in September, £600m was added in the following Autumn Statement and a further £200m in the last Budget.
As well as committing to the development of an improved east-west rail link named Northern Powerhouse Rail, which aims to reduce journey times from 50 minutes to about 30 minutes between Leeds and Manchester, the chancellor has also promised to develop plans for an 18-mile road tunnel under the Peak District to speed up journey times between Manchester and London. But budget small-print reveals that construction on both projects will not begin before 2020, and that the money has been only been put forward to draw up the plans rather than as any commitment to building either of the projects.
So is this enough to turn the concept which the Chancellor George Osborne first proposed in June 2014, into reality? And how well prepared is the North itself? The leaders of Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool, and Newcastle councils have committed to working together to meet shared objectives in four key areas: employment and skills, trade and investment, enterprise and innovation, and housing. This should move the Northern Powerhouse beyond rhetoric and into specifics about how the cities can work together to shared objectives. However, not just political but also business, financial and cultural leaders need to persuade the rest of the country and, particularly, the ‘millenial’ generation.
Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, says the region cannot wait. ‘The Northern Powerhouse needs very clear substance in the next few months.’
Other confirmed speakers include:
Welcome address Judith Blake, Leader, Leeds City Council Panels Mark Arthur, Chief Executive, Yorkshire County Cricket Club Brian Bigger, Mayor, City of Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada Tom Bridges, Chief Officer, Economy and Regeneration, Leeds City Council Philip Adam, Managing Director, Infrastructure, Energy & Export Finance , Global, HSBC Liz Barber, Group Director of Finance and Regulation, Kelda Group (Yorkshire Water) Martin Bartlam, Partner, DLA Piper LLP Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation, Leeds City Council Adam Beaumont, CEO and Founder, AQL Susan Evans, Director, Connected Communities and Devolved Regions, Alstom Transport Paul Fenwick, Construction Director, Mersey Gateway Crossings Board Alistair Gordon, CEO, Keolis Chris Hearld, Northern Chairman and Senior Partner, KPMG LLP Tobyn Hughes, Managing Director, Transport Operations, North East Region Combined Authority Phil Jones, President and Chief Executive, Northern Power Grid Jen Keogh, Chair, Leeds Millennial Forum Jin Xu, Minister Counsellor, Chinese Embassy Sir Nigel Knowles, Global Co-Chair, DLA Piper and Chair, Sheffield Local Enterprise Partnership Sir Alex Markham, Professor of Medicine, University of Leeds Hans Möller, Innovation Director, North East Local Enterprise Partnership Alison Munro, Managing Director, Development, HS2 Ltd Daniel Murray, Director of Strategy & Tech, Leeds List Mike Old, Global Head of Real Estate, Jefferies Allison Page, Partner, DLA Piper LLP (Chair) Dan Sheahan, Managing Director, North of England, Investec Rob Smith, Partner, DLA Piper LLP Paul Stanworth, Managing Director, Legal & General Capital Ben Still, Managing Director, West Yorkshire Combined Authority John Turton, Director, KPMG LLP Garry Wilson, Founding Partner, Endless LLP
Attendance at this event will benefit all stakeholders directly impacted by the development, including northern businesses, northern policy makers, rail industry and supply chain, financial institutions, construction industry, other transport professionals and consultants.
This conference is accredited by both the Solicitors' Regulation Authority and the Securities and Investment Institute for 6 Continuing Professional Development Points.
Thursday, June 30, 2016 8:45 AM - 4:40 PMGMT Time
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