Sir Peter Hendy has concluded his review of cross border connections in the UK.
As part of his final report he has outlined 11 recommendations which he believes should be prioritised to provide better transport connections between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In the report’s forward, the Network Rail chair stresses that this is not “a comprehensive list of potential improvements to the whole of the proposed network [but] would form a substantial programme to improve the connectivity of the nations of the UK”.
Summary of Union Connectivity Review recommendations:
- Investing in the West Coast Main Line north of Crewe to properly use HS2 and its faster journey times and capacity to serve connectivity between Scotland and England better
- Conducting an assessment of the East Coast rail and road corridor to determine appropriate investments for better connectivity between Scotland and England
- Upgrading the key A75 link to improve freight and passenger connectivity with Northern Ireland
- Improving connectivity between North Wales and North West England on the A55, M53 and M56 roads and on the North Wales Coast Main Line for faster journey times, more resilience and capacity, utilising HS2 and electrification to better serve North Wales, and for connectivity with Northern Ireland and the Republic
- Relieving congestion on the M4 South Wales and England corridor by speedily implementing the Burns Commission recommendations and easing capacity restrictions at the junctions of the M4, M5 and M32
- Improving rail journey times and capacity to link Cardiff with the Midlands and beyond
- Improving connectivity with Northern Ireland through better transport infrastructure, better rail capacity and journey times, better rail connections to airports and participation in the All-Island Strategic Rail Review
- Taking measures to improve domestic aviation connectivity
- Driving sustainable domestic aviation
- Securing better connectivity for freight across the UK with ports, and freeports as they are established
- Design and implement UKNET – a strategic transport network for the whole of the UK, and commit to providing additional funding to improve the network, in particular, the parts that are not performing well
While the government has not formally responded to each recommendation as yet, prime minister Boris Johnson labelled the report as “an inspiring vision for the future of transport”.
He added: “Determined to get to work right away, we will set up a strategic UK-wide transport network that can better serve the whole country with stronger sea, rail and road links – not only bringing us closer together but boosting jobs, prosperity and opportunity.”
Hendy’s report describes the UKNET as a “multi-modal, pan-UK network based on a series of principal transport corridors” that would “support long term economic growth, jobs, housing and social cohesion, the UK Government’s levelling up agenda and net zero ambitions”.
The report adds: “It would allow transport appraisals for schemes on the network to be undertaken on a UK-wide basis with all costs and benefits being fully accounted for. This would limit the risk of cross-border schemes being deprioritised.”
A major part of the network would be to create better transport links to the UK’s main airports and seaports as well as identifying and upgrading key freight and passenger corridors.
UKNET proposal
The need for collaboration with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland would be needed however to fund the network.
The UK government has said it will now “carefully consider the Union Connectivity Review’s recommendations in detail, working collaboratively with the Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to identify the solutions that work best for the people of the UK, and make tangible and meaningful progress as swiftly as possible”.
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