Construction of Nottingham tram extensions to start
Construction work can begin on the extensions to the Nottingham tram system has been announced by Transport Minister, Norman Baker.
Construction work can begin on the extensions to the Nottingham tram system, Transport Minister Norman Baker announced today (15 December 2011).
The Department for Transport will provide funding of up to a maximum of £371 million towards the total maximum scheme cost of £570 million.
The two extensions will to go to Chilwell/Beeston and Clifton, linking directly into Line One at Nottingham Station.
Today’s decision will allow Nottingham City Council to complete the remaining contractual steps so that construction can begin in January.
Norman Baker said:
I am delighted that we are able to finally approve funding so that construction of Phase Two of the tram system can begin.
Line One of the Nottingham tram has proved to be a great success in encouraging people onto public transport. These extensions provide the opportunity to build on that success, and give people in the south of Nottingham quicker, more convenient access to the city centre as well as providing an alternative means of accessing the city centre for people commuting by car.
They will also help to regenerate sections of the city and support the government’s wider growth agenda by providing better access to local jobs, and our environmental priority of cutting carbon by encouraging modal shift.
This good news follows on from the government’s recent announcement to fund the widening of the A453, which will feed into a 1000 space NET Park & Ride site on the edge of Clifton further speeding up people’s journeys between the M1 and Nottingham
Councillor Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation at Nottingham City Council, the scheme’s promoter, said:
After ten years in planning and development, alongside the innovation of the Workplace Parking Levy - our ambitious proposals to add two more lines to our tram network will now be realised
This is fantastic news for Nottingham. In these constrained financial and economic times it means a significant boost to the local economy, more jobs and better public transport for thousands of people.
Nottingham City Council can now finalise the contract so that construction work can begin.
Further information
Today’s announcement allows Nottingham City to complete the remaining contractual steps which will allow construction of the Nottingham Express Transit Phase 2 scheme (NET2) to start. Advanced works including utility diversions will start in January / February with the main tramway construction starting in March 2012.
The government is providing funding up to a maximum present value of £371 million (discounted to 1st April this year at 3.5% real, assuming 2.5% inflation) towards the total maximum scheme cost of £570 million.
Nottingham City Council will be providing the remaining funding largely from funds obtained from a Workplace Parking Levy.
Services on the new extensions are due to start in late 2014.
The first line of Nottingham Express Transit (NET) opened in March 2004. Phase Two consists of two new extensions of the:
- Chilwell and Beeston route running from the railway station to the south west of the city. It would serve the Meadows residential area, the ng2 development site, the region’s main hospital at the Queens Medical Centre, the University of Nottingham, Beeston town centre and Chilwell, terminating at a new park and ride site serving the A52, close to junction 25 of the M1.
- Clifton route running from the railway station to the south of the city. It would serve residential areas including the Meadows, the Wilford/Ruddington Lane area and the Clifton Estate, terminating at a new park and ride site serving the A453.
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