Our Policy Officer David Levene visited Blackburn for a local launch of the Strategic Transport Plan, which outlines how a £70 billion pipeline of investment would transform connectivity across the North and unlock £100 billion additional GVA and support the creation of up to 850,000 new jobs.
The Investment Programme, which accompanies the Strategic Transport Plan, contains transport interventions that would transform connectivity across Blackburn with Darwen and the rest of the North.
Potential interventions that will benefit Blackburn with Darwen include improvements to junctions 2-6 of the M65 and M6 to A1(M) capacity and journey time improvements, as well as improvements to the wider road network across Lancashire and beyond.
Journey time improvements are also planned for rail links between Blackburn and Manchester Victoria and the East Lancashire Line, with further improvements between Preston and York and the South Fylde Line, as well as improved public transport connectivity between Rossendale and Manchester and to Fleetwood.
David Levene, Policy & Strategy Officer at Transport for the North, said: “It’s been a momentous few weeks for the North as civic and business leaders came together to approve the Strategic Transport Plan, and back the Strategic Outline Business Case for Northern Powerhouse Rail.
“Blackburn with Darwen is an integral part of our Central Pennines corridor which includes some of the North’s important economic centres, two international airports, and is home to approximately 8.7 million people. The interventions outlined in our Investment Programme will transform connectivity here, across the rest of the North, and nationally.
“For the people of Blackburn, the strategic transport interventions will give them greater choice of where they want to live and work, as well as better employment prospects. Local businesses, including crucial manufacturing assets, will also benefit from greater opportunities to trade and grow, access to a wider, more highly skilled workforce, and improved freight links to move their products.
“The last few weeks have really highlighted the momentum and support behind the Strategic Transport Plan, and we welcomed the opportunity to join civic and business leaders today to discuss our plans, and what they mean for Blackburn with Darwen.”