COMMENT
• A coherent and sustainable city region plan for housing, transport and the economy;
• A psychological and confidence boost to the residents of the valleys.
However, there are some preconditions: the adoption of a strategic Cardiff City re- gion approach to transport and economic planning, the provision of funds (and the potential to fully devolve rail infrastructure powers and funding from DfT to WAG) and most importantly political support and leadership. However, all these issues can and must be addressed, given that such a scheme could provide an economic boost to the region unlike anything seen since the height of the coal industry.
Given the new connectivity enabled by an upgraded GWML and Cardiff Metro, the primary focus for economic development in the region should be based on Cardiff Council’s plans for a new Central Business District adjacent to Cardiff Central. This lo- cation has a number of distinct advantages:
• Centre of 1.4M population Cardiff City Region;
• Most accessible location for most people in city region;
• Less then 90 mins to Heathrow and Lon- don, post-GWML upgrade;
• 80,000 inward commuters in a 200,000 workforce, likely to increase significant- ly;
• Annual passenger throughput at Cardiff Central could exceed 20m as a result.
Complementary developments at other key locations on the Cardiff Metro such as Newport, Pontypridd, and so on, could help transform the economic fortunes of the entire Cardiff City Region. The regen- eration focus for other settlement in the region should be on the quality of the ur- ban environment, and based on cultural and educational factors, and ensuring that access to the ‘Metro network’ and employ- ment is easy and affordable.
The Metro concept has already secured widespread support from the business community. It has also secured the initial engagement of officials at WAG and the in- terest of all the political parties in Wales. However, to progress and secure input into CP5 planning, a major study is required to explore the economic impact, engineering/ route options, financing and planning of such a scheme.
There is an opportunity over the next two years, whilst capital funds are severely re- stricted, to plan strategically and for the long term. In addition to the study, this will require political will and a strategic city region approach to transport planning and
delivery in the Cardiff City Region.
Both the upgrade of the GWML and the Cardiff Metro could deliver a major eco- nomic stimulus to the economy of South Wales and especially the Valleys and halt a long-term decline in Wales’ economic for- tunes. This opportunity must be embraced.
About the author
Mark Barry was born and grew up in Cardiff. He left in 1981 to study at Man- chester University where he graduated in Physics and The Analysis of Science and Technology in 1985 before working in London and overseas in the IT/Software industry. From 1997, he spent five years in management consultancy working for the PA Consulting Group, leading projects for blue chip and government clients in both Europe and North America. In 2003 and after a short stay at the Welsh Devel- opment Agency, he founded and became Chief Executive of Cardiff Biotech Com- pany, Q Chip Ltd.
He now has his own consultancy busi- ness offering services including economic and transport policy development, pro- gramme management, business strategy and fund raising, especially for new tech- nology companies.
Mark is the author of the paper, “A Metro for Wales’ Capital City Region – Connect- ing Cardiff, Newport and The Valleys” published by the Cardiff Business Partner- ship and the Institute of Welsh Affairs in February 2011.
It is available at
www.cardiffbusiness-
partnership.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/ iwa_metroreport.pdf
FOOTNOTES
1 - Greengauge21/KPMG, March 2010, ‘High Speed Rail in Britain, Consequenc- es for employment and eco- nomic growth’ 2 – Suggested by the Bow Group in their report, ‘The Right Track’, in January 2010
Mark Barry FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: 07771 893292 E:
mark@mgbarryconsulting.com W:
www.mgbarryconsulting.com
30 | rail technology magazine Jun/Jul 11
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