Landsec CEO Mark Allan has urged the government to reconsider proposals for Manchester Picadilly's HS2-Northern Powerhouse Rail station, warning the current plans waste prime development space and could hit private sector investment in the north west.
In a letter to HS2 minister Huw Merriman, Allan urged the government to rethink its plans to create a "surface turnback station" and instead explore tunnelling at Picadilly "to create greater opportunities for economic growth", and ensure future rail projects are able to link up.
According to Manchester City Council research cited by Allan, the current proposals would result in the loss of more than five million square feet of prime land ripe for development.
He said: "The current proposals are a missed opportunity and will fail to realise the potentially transformative impact of what HS2 and NPR can deliver – and it will limit the growth that future transport improvements might deliver for the north of England.
"Proposals to have the HS2 station as a raised surface turnback facility really limits that opportunity, creating concrete lines where we could be envisaging new public spaces and regeneration, connecting different opportunity areas together with all the growth that follows.
"It would be far better to explore tunneling at Piccadilly to create greater opportunities for economic growth and to safeguard the potential to create a through station to support new pan-Northern rail connectivity in the future and underpin the long-standing vision for a Northern powerhouse economy."
Allan also asked the government to clarify whether Euston would be the final destination of the network's London terminus. It follows the government's decision in February to pause work at the central London station with fears over rising costs, casting doubt over the site's future.
"It seems absurd that doubt remains over the location of the London terminus – with Old Oak Common a potential outcome, even for a time-limited period. Doing so will significantly limit the capacity benefits that HS2 is intended to bring."
He added: "HS2 – done properly – has the potential to unlock greater private sector investment in the north west and beyond. It has the power to help us positively reshape urban areas improving the quality of live for all those living or working there.
"As a business, we are committed to driving economic growth in cities across the UK. We believe that the government has a key role in helping us to unlock that growth by thoughtful investment in transport infrastructure, connecting cities to each other and in creating better connections within city regions, thus maximising benefits from the investment made."
Allan's letter to the HS2 minister follows leaders from Manchester City Council, Greater Manchester, London and Camden Council writing to the transport secretary Mark Harper at the beginning of the month asking him to ensure HS2 is able to maximise its potential and deliver for the whole of the UK.
The Western Leg of the HS2 Phase 2b Bill is now at the Committee stage and will be debated on Monday. Original plans for the Manchester leg were published in the Integrated Rail Plan published on 18 November 2021.