The Northern Powerhouse is the creation of a single northern economy, which is greater than the sum of its parts.
It’s an opportunity to re-balance north – south inequalities by creating a vibrant and growing economic centre in the north, which acts as a magnet for inward investment and capitalises on the strengths of the region to realise its economic potential. A key enabler for this is connectivity; bringing the economic centres of the region closer together and connecting our cities, and towns, to allow better access to jobs, services and education.
For businesses, it’s about improving access to the labour market, connecting business to business and improving freight network efficiencies to optimise distribution of goods and make our region competitive on a global platform. Improved access to our region’s strategic ports is crucial for economic growth.
It’s also about linking the north with the rest of the world, enhancing the visitor economy and attracting investment and supporting local businesses. Airports will play a key role in connecting our region to the growing global economies to enable our unique economic offer to be fully exploited.
It is vital for the economic prosperity of the whole country that the north fulfils its potential for economic growth.
The Northern Powerhouse is about the north growing to raise its overall level of economic activity and, hence, supporting the economic growth of the whole UK, while also reducing the gap between richest and poorest regions.
This improved overall quality of life and access to opportunities needs to be offered to all the people who live and work in the north.
Each area has a role to play in making this happen and it is vital that local authorities pull together and work with industry, rather than working independently. By working together, local politicians and business leaders have more clout and can be more effective in realising shared goals.
We see this happening already through Transport for the North.
Our organisation has been set up as a partnership between northern transport authorities and Local Enterprise Partnerships, working alongside the national transport agencies, allowing politicians and business leaders to speak with one strong voice for the whole of the north.
Regional identity is important and it is key that prosperity is sector driven, with businesses forming natural clusters for sharing expertise, resources and infrastructure. Improved connectivity shouldn’t suppress local identity; it should simply bring the region closer together.
A clear set of strategic priorities, long-term plans and funding are key to the successful creation of the Northern Powerhouse.
The north requires major, long-term investment funding and the devolution of powers to first allow it to prioritise against its objectives and then, to create and manage the right delivery.
This will allow investment to be strategically placed to best connect economic centres, allowing clusters to develop and supporting trade and business generation.
Better commuting opportunities to the centres of economic activity are also required, allowing access to jobs, skills and services from rural areas and smaller economic centres.
The north also needs better travel information and integrated ticketing systems to expand travel horizons for businesses and individuals and multiply the benefits of investment in infrastructure.
The Northern Powerhouse also needs collaboration between businesses and local politicians in support of infrastructure improvements that meet the needs of pan-northern integration well as the needs of local economies to support business growth both between and within cities and their hinterlands.
Transport for the North is currently working towards the publication of an update on the development of its pan-northern transport strategy, which will inform future investment priorities, designed to transform northern connectivity.
As part of the recent spending review, Government made a number of commitments to support the work of TfN.
Firstly TfN has been granted £50 million over the course of this parliament. This funding ensures the future certainty of the organisation, allowing TfN to realise its ambitious vision for a connected north.
In addition, and to further support pan-northern connectivity, Government has announced £150 million investment to create a smart ticketing system in the north. This will allow TfN to accelerate our programme and by March 2016 we will set out an implementation plan to deliver smart and integrated travel for the region.
The north needs major-investment in infrastructure and the £300m national Transport Development Fund will allow TfN and its partner organisations to develop major infrastructure projects, such as Northern Powerhouse Rail – a high-quality rail service linking key routes west to east.
TfN has already begun engaging with the National Infrastructure Commission and we will be working closely with the Commission and Government to drive forward our agenda and make the rapid progress that is needed to better connect individuals, support business and drive the growth of a single economy in the north.
Our vision is for a north with a vibrant, growing and sustainable economy that builds on the existing strengths of the northern regions, attracts and retains the brightest and best talent and attracts investment from overseas.
A successful Northern Powerhouse will see the north competing on a global scale, playing host to innovative international companies, offering leading talent to businesses and using its state-of-the-art transport connections to create clusters of thriving enterprise.