Contributing To The Regeneration of Greater Nottingham
NET Phase Two is a key element of the Greater Nottingham transport strategy. Greater Nottingham's economy is worth approximately £10.7 billion and supports approximately 300,000 locally based jobs.
Nottingham is a regional capital and an important commercial centre whose influence is felt far beyond its administrative boundaries. In light of this, the area's transport network has a continuing need to support commuters, shoppers and visitors drawn to the city.
Councillor Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation at Nottingham City Council
"While under construction, NET Phase Two is generating millions of pounds worth of construction contracts for local companies and employment for hundreds of local people. Once opened, the extended tram network will stimulate long term employment growth - estimated to be in the region of 8,000 jobs, and attract inward investment which will potentially boost the local economy by around £300m per year. The network will provide a fast, frequent public transport service - serving some of the region's largest employers, Nottingham's Railway Station and providing a vital transport link for the south and south west of the city."
It is no accident that many of the world's most progressive cities have placed light rail systems right at the heart of their public transport solutions and Nottingham is no different. The current NET system is being transformed into a much expanded tram network, covering three key arterial routes into and through the city.
The £570m pound project is without a doubt one of the most significant infrastructure projects to have ever been undertaken in Nottingham. NET Phase Two is a development which, over the years to come, will help to transform what is already one of the country's core regional cities into a location with international prominence.
The key aims of NET Phase Two are:
- To provide a sustainable alternative to the car for many journeys in order to tackle congestion, particularly on the strategic road network including the A453 and A52.
- To increase public transport capacity to accommodate growth in Greater Nottingham.
- To improve accessibility, reduce social exclusion and see further investment in NET Line One.
- To contribute to an integrated public transport system in Greater Nottingham and make changing between different forms of transport easier.
- To support land use policy, regeneration and neighbourhood transformation strategies in the City Centre, the district centres of Beeston and Clifton and other important employment and residential areas.
- To extend the use of an environmentally friendly mode of transport
Click here to see the objectives in full: Statement of Aims [3Mb]
Extending Nottingham's tram network
NET Line One opened in 2004 and has been highly successful, with 10 million passengers per year, taking some 3 million car journeys each year off congested roads and significantly improving accessibility. NET Phase Two, which is promoted by Nottingham City Council, will build on this achievement by:
- Providing a step change in public transport provision in the west and south west of Nottingham - Chilwell via Beeston and Clifton via Wilford
- Serving two of the biggest three employers in Greater Nottingham - the Queen's Medical Centre and University of Nottingham
- Providing access to around 1270 city workplaces, to which about 55,000 employees commute
- Serving 20 of the 30 largest employers in Greater Nottingham, who will be within 800 metres of a tram stop
- Enhancing accessibility to nearly 30% of the Greater Nottingham population who will be within 800 metres of a tram stop
- Improving integration with the road network through Park & Ride and providing congestion relief to the A453, A52 and other local roads
- Providing tram based Park & Ride serving all routes into Nottingham from the three M1 junctions (24 - 26)
- Improving integration with bus services and the rail network
- Taking a further 3 million car journeys off Nottingham's roads
The proposals for NET Phase Two are fully consistent with strategies for land use, planning and economic development and with policies at national, regional and local level. In particular they are fully consistent with the Greater Nottingham Transport Plan, the Regional Spatial Strategy and City of Nottingham, Broxtowe and Rushcliffe Local Plans. The proposed routes were also recommended in the Government sponsored studies for the M1 (section through the East Midlands) and A453 (M1 to Nottingham).
