Trams with plans: a golden opportunity for Geoff Hoon

By Mik Barton on Oct 30, 08 01:33 PM in Planning

In an interview with the FT today, the "new, enthusiastic" transport secretary Geoff Hoon says he has ordered a review to find infrastructure projects within his brief that can help Gordon Brown stimulate demand with a spending spree on public works projects.

But, he says, he can't find enough that have existing planning permission.

Broad Street tram.jpg

"I'd like to play my part ... I wish I could get out my spade and start digging," Hoon tells the FT.

Why doesn't he pay a visit to Birmingham then? There is a project right on our doorstep that has been granted a Transport and Works Act Order (the equivalent of planning permission for these sorts of things).

A good many people are still arguing that a world-class city needs a world-class public transport system.

When you have a plan with planning permission an a Government desperate to spend money, that sounds like a golden opportunity to me.

Birmingham does not need a tram link to its international airport and the NEC, it needs an express link (like four-tracking the main line would achieve). So instead of going back to square one, where there is no planning permission, for no apparent reason than ownership of a big idea, why doesn't Birmingham grasp an opportunity.

The TWA permission for the Midland Metro to run trams through the city centre, to New Street Gateway, the ICC and Five Ways expires in less than two years so the opportunity won't be around for much longer.