Patience May Be Required: 40 Year Wait For A £7.1B East-West Midlands Corridor
Plans to improve the the A46 corridor linking the South West of England and Humberside, through the Midlands, could take 40 years to deliver.
The corridor plan, which is predicted to deliver £7.1B economic benefits, includes improving the M69 and short sections of the M1 and A45, linking Coventry, Leicester, Newark and Lincoln to South Wales and the Humber Ports.
“Using today’s approach to funding, it could be 40 years before the A46 receives the investment it needs to match the growth in jobs and housing expected along the corridor," Midlands Connect Director Maria Machancoses said, launching the plan.
"We must do things differently and accelerate a long-term investment plan to make sure economic growth isn’t held back. Delivering our vision will not only make our businesses more prosperous, it will improve the quality of life of millions of people living and working along the corridor. Doing nothing will hold back this progress.”
The document proposes a new bypass for Evesham, improvements to bottlenecks around Stratford-upon-Avon, dualling between the M5 and M40, and a new Leicester Eastern/Southern Bypass, including a link from M69 junction 2 and a new M1 junction 20A.
To join the conversation about how transport could deliver for the region's office market, register for the Bisnow Birmingham State of the Office Market event on 6 December here.
