mksm Transport Infrastructure

January 2009

mksm is to receive major benefits following the announcement by the Department for Transport for new road and rail infrastructure for our area.

The proposals outlined by Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon on 15 January include a programme of A14 widening and a decision for Hard Shoulder Running on the M1 from Junctions 10-13. Both these key infrastructure schemes will begin within the next 2 years

The announcement also includes the creation of a new company by the Department – High Speed Two – which will consider high speed rail to north and potential high speed routes via mksm - which could lead to major economic benefits from the improved connectivity and set mksm in good stead for its ambitions programme of sustainable growth.

New proposals also commit the Government to consider case the for the electrification of Midland Mainline – one of the busiest rail lines in the country which runs from London St Pancras to the north via Luton, Bedford, Kettering and Wellingborough.

For further information please see:

DfT Press Release:

http://nds.coi.gov.uk/environment/fullDetail.asp?ReleaseID=389762&NewsAreaID=2&NavigatedFromDepartment=True

Roads:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/network/policy/motorways/

Rail:

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/pi/highspeedtwo/

- ENDS -

 Notes to Editors:

1.    Milton Keynes South Midlands (mksm) is delivering over 224,000 houses and 192,000 jobs between 2001 and 2021 and is the UK's largest growth area.

2.    mksm is one of the four major Growth Areas in England designated by government in the 2003 Sustainable Communities Plan. It spans three regions and covers the whole of Northamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, and the Aylesbury Vale District in Buckinghamshire.

3.    mksm is governed by an Inter Regional Board (IRB) chaired by the CLG Minister Iain Wright MP. The IRB was established in 2004 as a response to the Government proposals set out in the Sustainable Communities Plan, and to deliver the plans set out in the mksm Sub Regional Strategy. IRB brings together national, regional, local government and infrastructure providers to plan sustainable growth for the area. The Board meets three times every year and focuses on key strategic issues, including addressing the barriers to sustainable growth.

4.    The mksm Sub Regional Strategy (2005) is a formal planning document which spans three mksm regions - the South East, East and East Midlands. Predicted housing and jobs growth has since  been amended with the progress of Regional Spatial Strategies and also Local Development Frameworks. This is a continual process. The mksm Business Plan reflects the latest agreed position.

5.    mksm is supported by a small but dedicated executive team to facilitate and strengthen partnership working across mksm. The team is headed up by Director Hilary Chipping was recruited in January 2008.

For further information:

For further information on the contents of this press notice, please contact :

Ben Stoneman

Tel:       01604 236697

Email:   bstoneman@mksm.org.uk

bstoneman@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Alternatively, please visit our website at www.mksm.org.uk or contact the mksm executive team on

Tel:       01604 236541

E Mail: getintouch@mksm.org.uk