Connectivity challenge: Union Connectivity Review makes ambitious proposals to revolutionise transport connectivity in the UK

One year ago, Hendy was asked by Prime Minister Boris Johnson MP to review the transport connectivity between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

In his interim report in March, Hendy maintained that while devolution had been good for transport where delivery has been devolved, it had resulted in a lack of attention to connectivity between the nations of the United Kingdom.

A STRATEGIC UK-WIDE TRANSPORT NETWORK

Hendy argued that the government’s ambition to build back better and level up the UK economy entailed making a wider case for transport investment across the country, and that leaving the EU created the opportunity to establish what he dubbed ‘UKNET’ – a strategic transport network for the whole of the UK.

“This report now identifies transport corridors that I believe should be contained within this network,” he wrote in his foreword to the full report, “and focuses specifically on those that are important for connectivity between the nations of the UK and where improvements to those would serve the UK better.”

The report sets out Hendy’s comprehensive recommendations for what needs to be done for better Union connectivity. These span road and rail infrastructure as well as connections to airports and ferry routes across the Irish Sea between Scotland and Northern Ireland. Measures should also be taken to improve domestic aviation connectivity, the report suggests.

INCREASING SCOTTISH CAPACITY

On rail, the report recommends investing in the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe to increase capacity between Scotland and England and improve journey times. The report also suggests an assessment of the East Coast rail and road corridor to determine which investments will aid better connectivity between Scotland and England.

Of particular interest to operators that transport goods between Scotland and Northern Ireland is the recommended upgrade to the key A75 route to the ferry port of Cairnryan in Scotland, the departure point for ferry services to Larne and Belfast in Northern Ireland.

OVERHAULING WELSH CONNECTIVITY

Improving the connectivity between Wales and England and Northern Ireland form key recommendations in the report. Roads between North Wales and North West England – the A55, M53 and M56 – should be improved along with the North Wales Coast Main Line for faster journey times, more resilience and capacity, the report recommends. It is suggested that utilising HS2 and electrification will better serve North Wales.

Congestion on the M4 South Wales to London corridor must be relieved by implementing the Burns Commission recommendations, the report argues, while rail journey times and capacity between Cardiff and the Midlands also require improvement.

IMPROVING LINKS TO NORTHERN IRELAND

While separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea, the report suggests that connectivity with Northern Ireland can be improved through better transport infrastructure, increased rail capacity, shorter journey times and better rail connections to airports.

CLEAR AND COMPREHENSIVE RECOMMENDATIONS

The UK government will now consider the report’s recommendations in detail, working in close collaboration with the devolved administrations to identify solutions that work best for the UK as a whole.

“My recommendations provide comprehensive, achievable and clear plans forward to better connect the whole of the United Kingdom,” Hendy said, “leading to more growth, jobs, housing and social cohesion.

“I welcome the enthusiasm shown by the Prime Minister and the government to my final report and I look forward to their formal response to my recommendations, which aim to spread opportunity and prosperity right across the United Kingdom.”

LOGISTICS UK WELCOMES REPORT FINDINGS

Logistics UK has broadly welcomed the recommendations on infrastructure contained within the Union Connectivity Review.

“With effective and efficient transport connectivity between the nations vital to support trade and the UK economy, Logistics UK welcomes the infrastructure improvements recommended in the Review,” said Elizabeth de Jong, Director of Policy at Logistics UK, in response to the report’s publication last week.

“This includes UKNET, a strategic transport network that would span the UK, and the A75 upgrade. The A75 in Scotland is a key trading route linking Great Britain and Northern Ireland, but the road has been in need of investment for many years. Logistics UK will now be examining the implications of the Union Connectivity Review recommendations in more depth and working with UK government, devolved administrations, and members to ensure the best outcomes for the logistics industry.”

*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns/investing-in-infrastructure

Published On: 02/12/2021 16:00:48

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