Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Great British Railways Headquarters: Carnforth Bid

08 March 2022 · 1 other contributor · 2,863 words

Opened by David Morris Con Morecambe and Lunesdale

Responding minister: Wendy Morton

Transport

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

David Morris raised concerns about great british railways headquarters: carnforth bid in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Concerns raised about Carnforth bid for Great British Railways headquarters, citing community support and a petition with over 500 names.
  • Specific asks of government to consider Carnforth due to its unique location, connectivity, and support from local councils.
  • Minister acknowledged Carnforth's rail heritage and its significance in railway history, including being a filming location for "Brief Encounter".

Key requests to Government

I ask the government to consider Carnforth's bid due to its unique location, connectivity, and support from local councils. The town offers ample sites for building a new office block and provides quality employment opportunities along with excellent tourism benefits.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

David Morris Con Morecambe and Lunesdale

I am concerned about the bid for Carnforth to become the headquarters for Great British Railways. The community has unanimously supported this bid, and a petition with over 500 names was compiled by Lancaster Civic Vision. Carnforth is centrally placed in the UK and offers excellent connectivity via rail and road to all cardinal points, including access to Manchester airport and Heysham Port for links to the Isle of Man and Ireland. The town has extensive railway heritage and facilities to host the new headquarters, including hotels, a prestigious Eden Project nearby, and electric charging points promoting low-carbon transport.

Other contributors (1)
  • Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Fleetwood

    Cat Smith highlighted the cross-party support for Lancaster City Council's bid, emphasising that Carnforth has a stronger local bid than Preston. She also thanked the Lancaster and Morecambe rail users group for their advocacy and suggested it would be poetic if Carnforth became the place where Great British Railways headquarters was relocated. I agree with my hon. friend that the whole community in Lancaster and Morecambe wants to see Carnforth succeed in becoming the national headquarters for Great British Railways. The bid has cross-party support, including from Lancaster City Council. Asked the Minister about Fleetwood's eligibility to bid for GBR headquarters due to its lack of rail connection. Requested an update on when the railway might return to Fleetwood, which was promised by the Prime Minister ahead of the 2019 general election.

Government Response

Wendy Morton

Thank you, Mr Efford. First, I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Morecambe and Lunesdale (David Morris) for securing today's debate. Railways are close to my heart due to family history in the industry. Carnforth has a significant rail heritage as it was once a meeting point between three major railways, housing an important railway town. The film 'Brief Encounter' filmed there, adding to its significance. Today, Carnforth is home to West Coast Railways and several regular steam trains, including the Jacobite. GBR will establish a new headquarters outside London, aligning with levelling-up objectives. A competition has been launched for towns and cities to submit bids based on six criteria: alignment with levelling up, connectivity, opportunities for GBR, rail heritage and links to the network, value for money, and public support. The application process will close on 16 March. Additionally, alongside a national headquarters, regional divisions will be set up to bring decisions closer to local communities. The Government published an integrated rail plan in November 2021, allocating £96 billion of investment into the railways of the north and midlands over the next 30 years. I am looking forward to receiving bids from Carnforth and other towns.

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