CHAMBER POLICY
One year on: Norfolk Chamber calls for more rail improvements. n Completion of the improvements to Ely North Junction
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n New Rolling Stock n Priority loops at Chelmsford to create more capacity n Electrification of the Norwich to Cambridge line The four-county East Anglia Rail Summit met in Westminster recently, one year on from the launch of the East Anglia Rail Prospectus chaired by Chloe Smith MP. Representatives from Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and Cambridge; together with Network Rail and Greater Anglia Rail Franchise all attended the summit. Norfolk’s delegation included the Norfolk Chamber, the majority of the Norfolk MPs, Norfolk County Council and the New Anglia LEP. The summit reviewed the improvements that have been approved for Ely Junction, Bow Junction and the West Anglia three tracking system. The improvements to Ely junction will allow more capacity and will facilitate a half hourly service from King’s Lynn to London, as well as providing another step in the right direction for Norwich to London in 90 minutes.
Delegates at the East Anglia Rail Summit with Norfolk Chamber being represented by Nova Fairbank.
New Rolling Stock – the existing rolling stock will no longer be compliant by 2019, however to ensure new rolling stock is deliverable in good time, it must be called for now.
Despite the good progress, the group agreed that more rail improvements were necessary:
Electrification of the Norwich to Cambridge line – Huge advances have been made in bio and life sciences in both Norwich and Cambridge. Long term, there is an economic case to be made for electrification of the line to ensure that both cities can benefit from linking science and innovation with ease of access.
Improvements to Chelmsford to create a priority loop which will provide additional capacity, that will benefit all four counties and create economic benefits across the region.
Norfolk Chamber on behalf of its members will continue to lobby for these improvements directly and through our Westminster office of the British Chambers of Commerce.
A robust mortgage market if further improvements further in the house building market is to be achieved, which at present does not appear to be happening on a large scale, despite Government initiatives. There is however optimism within the Housing industry with respect to the Governments new Mortgage funding initiative NewBuy. The NewBuy scheme
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Signs of improvement. At a recent meeting of the Chamber Planning & Development Group, members advised that there has been a small improvement in the development market. Although some development projects were underway, the housing market showed more signs of improvement than the commercial property market Commercial developers were being very cautious and had little appetite for development without guaranteed end users.
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helps people bridge the deposit gap, allowing people who only have a 5% deposit purchase a new house, it is proposed that NewBuy will be rolled out to existing houses in 2004. It was felt however whilst this may stimulate the market in the short term care should be taken that it did not artificially raise prices and create more of a problem in the mortgage market long term. Jonathan Cage, Chair of the Chamber Planning & Development Group and Managing Director of Create Consulting Engineers said: “The market is still very challenging, however there does appear to be some small improvement in the house building sector. Clearly we need a focussed effort to ensure that Norfolk makes the most of the opportunities for inward investment, both in terms of housing and the commercial sector.”
Revenue Grants are available up to a maximum of 30% of eligible revenue expenditure (up to £1,666) What kinds of things could a Grants4Growth revenue grant support? n Specialist consultancy and/or support and studies related to the promotion, marketing or mainstreaming of low carbon and environmental goods and services (LCEGS) sector products and services – clean tech and/or green tech To book an appointment with your local Business Broker, Lindy Warmer, contact Cassie Mant on Tel: 01362 656 235 / Email: cassie.mant@ breckland.gov.uk or for more information visit the website: www.grants4growth.org.uk
EXHIBITION 17 OCTOBER 2013 NORWICH CITY FOOTBALL CLUB, 10AM–5PM
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER JULY/AUGUST 2011 2013
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