A report by HS2 has found that within three "impact zones" close to the new line in the West Midlands, the number of planning applications have increased by 66% since the project was given royal assent in 2017, four times higher than the rate outside the zones.
In the same period, there has been a 484% increase in the number of homes planned in those areas, 14 times greater than elsewhere in the region, as well as a 200% increase in planned floor space, which includes commercial developments.
Jon Thompson, the executive chairman of HS2, said: "For too long, the debate on the wider economic benefits of high-speed rail in the UK has relied on anecdotal evidence.
This report gives definitive proof that investor appetite, regeneration activity and investment close to HS2's regional assets has surged." Construction of the London to Birmingham line is well under way, with 350 active sites across London and the West Midlands, and more than a third of tunnelling already complete.
But the project has been beset by increasing costs, with Thompson telling MPs in January the estimated total had ballooned to as much as £66bn.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin February 20, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin February 20, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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