Money Talks – Reassessing Transport Priorities Following HS2

Magda Cepeda-Zorrilla and Donald Houston discuss how transport priorities have changed following HS2. They argue that buses are good value for taxpayers, important to those who do not have any other form of transport and can foster inclusive economic growth. In England, public support for bus operators and users totalled £3.1 billion in 2021-22 – … Continue reading “Money Talks – Reassessing Transport Priorities Following HS2”

London Wins Again – The Debacle of the UK’s High-speed Rail ‘strategy’ 

Donald Houston and Rebecca Riley discuss the scrapping of HS2 and the significant economic impact on the North of the UK. This blog was originally written for the Birmingham Business School Blog. A branding failure HS2 has always suffered from a branding failure. HS2 sounds rather anodyne and the ‘2’ reminds those north of London … Continue reading “London Wins Again – The Debacle of the UK’s High-speed Rail ‘strategy’ ”

Large-Scale Sustainable Development in the Birmingham City-Region

Kelvin Humphreys looks at green growth in the city-region exemplified through major investment in clean energy, vehicle electrification, mixed-use development and sustainable transport infrastructure. This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2022.  The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by the University of Birmingham’s City-REDI and the Greater Birmingham … Continue reading “Large-Scale Sustainable Development in the Birmingham City-Region”

HS2: A Vital Catalyst for Growth

Mark Thurston highlights the importance of the HS2 rail line for Birmingham and the West Midlands.  This blog post was produced for inclusion in the Birmingham Economic Review for 2021. The annual Birmingham Economic Review is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce. It is an in-depth exploration of … Continue reading “HS2: A Vital Catalyst for Growth”

West Midlands Economic Monitor: March 2020

March’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. This month’s monitor shows: PMI softened in February, but still depicted growth, and the claimant count has increased by over 20,000 people since last year. The global COVID-19 pandemic is beginning … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: March 2020”

#Budget2020: Did the West Midlands Win Anything?

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has now delivered his much-anticipated budget. It is the first UK budget since 2018 and has been given ahead of a Bank of England Rate interest rate cut from 0.75% to 0.25%. But, what will it mean for the regions of the UK, and more importantly what will it mean for … Continue reading “#Budget2020: Did the West Midlands Win Anything?”

West Midlands Economic Monitor: February 2020

February’s edition of the West Midlands Economic Monitor is now available for you to keep up to date with recent developments in the region. This month shows that regional PMI data has rebounded to growth, whilst economic growth in Q2 2018 – Q2 2019 was mostly due to service sector contraction. House-building is at a … Continue reading “West Midlands Economic Monitor: February 2020”

Towards an Integrated Transport Policy in the West Midlands

This blog post has been produced to provide insight into the findings of the Birmingham Economic Review. The Birmingham Economic Review 2019 is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, with contributions from the West Midlands Growth Company. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of England’s second … Continue reading “Towards an Integrated Transport Policy in the West Midlands”

The Importance of Connectivity: If HS2 and the Midlands Rail Hub Are Delivered the Whole Region Will Benefit

In the latest City-REDI West Midlands Economic Monitor we noted how Midlands Connect has submitted a £2 billion plan for a Midlands Rail Hub The proposal would see 24 extra passenger trains for East-West connectivity, including faster connectivity times for towns and cities across the Midlands, including Nottingham and Hereford. The plan would see Moor … Continue reading “The Importance of Connectivity: If HS2 and the Midlands Rail Hub Are Delivered the Whole Region Will Benefit”

The Birmingham Economic Review 2018: Infrastructure

This blog post has been produced to provide insight into the findings of the Birmingham Economic Review. The Birmingham Economic Review 2018 is produced by City-REDI, University of Birmingham and the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, with contributions from the West Midlands Growth Company. It is an in-depth exploration of the economy of England’s second … Continue reading “The Birmingham Economic Review 2018: Infrastructure”