Decision details

A report was presented on proposals to transform Preston Railway Station in order to create a high quality, contemporary transport hub.

It was reported that the station’s development was of fundamental importance as a driver of economic growth aspirations across Lancashire serving as a gateway for an extensive catchment of communities further afield, particularly for connectivity with the West Coast Main Line and, in the future, to HS2. 

The Committee noted that various improvements would be required to the fabric of the station to ensure Preston Railway station could be considered as a HS2 hub. These improvements would include an increase in the height and length of platforms to accommodate high speed trains and structural changes to ensure the Station was able to  accommodate a significant increase in the number of people using its services, including improvements to DDA facilities.

The Committee was informed that the LEP and its partners would need to develop and maintain close working relationships with a range of organisations to ensure that transformation of Preston Station progresses.  Positioning station transformation at the core of Lancashire's local response to the Government's recently published Industrial Strategy would be essential in influencing future national rail investment priorities.  Further work was therefore necessary to fully understand and quantify the wider economic growth and productivity benefits that the station's transformation could deliver.  Specialist consultants would need to be engaged to undertake this work, which would include forecasts of future passenger demand. It was hoped that this work would also help inform the Preston City Transport Plan.

Officers responded to questions raised with regard to the wider economic benefits of the scheme in terms of potential development for Preston and the wider region. It was felt that a strong evidence based case could be made for Preston Station to become a HS2 hub.  This would be taken forward with the help of Network Rail.

Richard Perry, Department of Transport (DfT), addressed the Committee and advised that the government would have to consider several issues/ elements when determining the evidence based case including:

·  The redesign of the station;

·  The burgeoning growth in rail;

·  The focus on growth and wider connectivity;

·  The accessibility of the station;

·  The wider benefits not only to Preston but to the wider region; and most importantly how this would be paid for..

He also felt that the LEP Board should look at a comprehensive package and undertake a wider Lancashire based review to include Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen and the east-west corridor. It was felt that this would fit in well with the work Transport for the North was undertaking.

Following further discussion, it was felt that the LEP Board should be recommended to accept the DfT advice detailed above.

Resolved: That the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board be recommended to:

(i)  Accept the DfT advice as detailed above;

(ii)   Support the commissioning of a study to examine and quantify the wider economic growth and productivity benefits that the transformation of Preston Station  could deliver;

(iii)  Fund the study from its strategic case-making budget.