WSP appointed to Transport for the North’s key transport corridor studies

The Manchester office of WSP has been appointed by Transport for the North to develop an infrastructure improvement programme across two key transport corridors in the north of England. 

WSP will build a business case for improving infrastructure links across the Central Pennines corridor, increasing road and rail capacity between important economic centres in North Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Hull and Humber, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. A second study will look at developing better connections for people and goods between energy and research assets along the north west and north east coastlines and national road and rail networks.  

The work is the first in a series of planned studies commissioned by Transport for the North which will support the development of its Strategic Transport Plan and Investment Programme which has identified seven key development corridors which, with major infrastructure investment, could help create close to a million new jobs and add almost £100bn to the UK’s economy. 

WSP will produce a multi-modal programme for improving rail and road connectivity along the initial two corridors. The business will offer a range of services including transport planning and modelling, highways, environmental, risk management and stakeholder engagement, supported by partners Steer Davies Gleave and Dialogue by Design. 

Nasar Malik, WSP’s project director for both studies, commented: “I am delighted to lead the consultant teams for these two important studies, building on the good working relationship developed with Transport for the North through an earlier transport study. This marks a major milestone in Transport for the North’s drive to identify future transport investment that would improve connectivity across the north. 

“I think it’s key that these first studies look beyond major city regions like Leeds and Manchester, which are often identified as the major drivers of the Northern Powerhouse agenda. In fact, it is our coastal energy hubs and the growing significance of the Pennine area as business and industrial centres, which could unlock unprecedented economic growth. 

“With both road and rail expertise in-house, WSP is able to draw on our exceptional local knowledge, as well as our experience in conceiving and delivering more world-class multi-modal schemes across the globe.” 

The studies will be submitted to Transport for the North by summer 2018.