Government pledges regeneration help after HS2 cut

The government said it would commit to "extensive work" on new regeneration and growth opportunities in Crewe.

The scrapping of the northern section of HS2 was described as a "devastating blow" by the town's business leaders.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has written to the town’s Conservative MP Dr Kieran Mullan committing to funding to support the area.

The Labour leader of Cheshire East Council had called for compensation from the government.

Crewe Station was due to become a HS2 hub

In a letter, Mr Harper said the government recognised the decision to cut phase two of HS2 and progress with a scheme named Network North had "implications for Crewe".

"The government will also commit to extensive work with the council and other local leaders – led by DfT and DLUHC – to determine new regeneration and growth opportunities in Crewe," he said.

Mr Harper said this would include how to make the most of the "substantial funding" for Cheshire East under the new Local Integrated Transport Settlements, which he said would be set out "in due course".

Dr Mullan said the decision on HS2 was not the one he wanted and said he understood "why people will be sceptical about pledges from government right now".

But he said he had been raising the need for support for Crewe with the prime minister, chancellor and the transport and levelling up secretaries.

"Getting this formal commitment is the first step and I am now focused on securing funding to support it," he said.

"This is something I will work with Cheshire East on, and they have been able to put forward the funding figures we can use as a basis for negotiation with government."