Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has confirmed that the plans for HS2 in Leeds have been abandoned, with existing rail services instead being given an upgrade.
The new proposals replace the planned 40-mile high speed line between Manchester and Leeds.
Instead, there’ll be a stretch of new railway – partly HS2, partly Northern Powerhouse Rail – between Warrington and Marsden, which will join with the existing Transpennine route.
Despite an offering of £96 billion, the rail improvement programme is expected to transform public transport rather than bring high speed rail infrastructure (HS2) to Leeds, The Hoot has reported.
The proposed HS2 plans for Leeds have been scrapped. Credit: HS2
The plans were announced this morning online, but were confirmed by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps later in the day.
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HS2 would have originally connected Leeds with London, as well as Birmingham and Manchester, but it is the eastern leg of the HS2 plans that are now set to be scrapped in favour of improving existing services.
Outlining the new plans, the Prime Minister announced that the Northern Powerhouse Rail, the new rail improvement programme, will cut the journey from Leeds to Manchester to just 33 minutes and double train capacities.
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The north will only get a fraction of the £96billion 'rail revolution'.
👉Phase 1 of HS2 accounts for half of that but only goes as far as Birmingham.
👉Half the HS2 budget on the eastern leg has disappeared altogether.
— The Northern Powerhouse Partnership (@NP_Partnership) November 18, 2021
Boris Johnson also announced that HS2 will be a fixture in Sheffield, but not necessarily in Leeds.
The journey from Sheffield to London is expected to take 1 hour 27 minutes under the new plans and the government will “look at how to get HS2 to Leeds too, with a new study on the best way to make it happen”.
Under the new proposed rail scheme, the journey from Leeds to Bradford will be cut to 12 minutes and improvements will be made to Wakefield and Doncaster lines on an upgraded East Coast Main Line.
The Trans-Pennine Main Line will also be expanded, along with the Midland Main Line, by the early 2030s.
Ending the Prime Minister’s speech was a promise for London-style Oyster cards and a statement to put tram network rumours to rest: “By later this decade, Leeds will no longer be the largest city in Europe without a metro because we today commit to build West Yorkshire Mass Transit, and to the funding needed to see it through.
“And even sooner than that, we’ll install London-style contactless ticketing on Yorkshire’s commuter network.”
Feature Image– Wikimedia Commons
News
Glossop Market Hall – Incredible new food hall and market space opens on the edge of the Peak District
Daisy Jackson
Glossop Market Hall has officially reopened its doors, and it’s a shining example of how to breathe life back into heritage marketplaces like this.
The market hall has undergone a major regeneration project to restore this landmark in the town, and is now home to a modern food hall as well as independent retail spaces.
It’s hoped that this impressive new space will once again act after the ‘heartbeat of the town’.
While the landmark building has a fresh design, the plan is to keep it proudly local, filled with local and regional traders from the beer taps to the burgers to the book vending machine (you heard – a book vending machine).
The regeneration of Glossop Market Hall has created more than 60 new jobs for the area and boasts an impressive array of food, drink, and retail across three different indoor zones and the outdoor market.
The bar inside has independent local breweries on tap, while gin comes from the Glossop Distillery (from the team behind Forest Gin).
As for the food offering, you’ll find wagyu burgers from Wagyu Lookin At?, double-dunked fried chicken from Pattersons, and hand-stretched pizzas from Pizza Dealers, as well as artisan gelato from Baci Di Gelato and Greek street food from Kefi Social.
Familiar names from Manchester have moved into Glossop Market Hall too – look out for Bold Street Coffee and Hello Oriental inside.
As for the retail spaces, there’s a bottle shop, a florists, an Asian grocery store, vintage clothing, a dog general store, and a delicatessen.
And as a unique addition, Derbyshire’s first public book vending machine has moved in, with 16 rotating titles chosen by the historic Dark Peak Books & Gifts.
There’s a dedicated children’s area that honours the work of illustrator and author John Vernon Lord, plus a huge new events and wedding space available for hire.
Some of the food on offer in Glossop Market Hall
Food traders inside Glossop Market Hall include Hello Oriental
Bold Street Coffee
Richard Walker, managing director of The Hospitality Collective, said: “We know the local community has been patiently waiting for this moment, and we have been truly overwhelmed by the incredible engagement from such exciting local brands who wanted to be involved in the hall.
“It is a moment of immense pride for us to be able to finally launch the Market Hall, and we are so excited for the future of this venue as a destination the whole town can be proud of.”
Councillor Damien Greenhalgh, Deputy Leader and Executive Councillor for Regeneration, Tourism and Leisure, added: “We’re absolutely delighted to be opening the doors on this High Peak Borough Council‑delivered, multi‑million pound transformation of Glossop’s Market Hall, Arcade and Town Hall.
“This is the biggest regeneration project in decades, a true passion project that breathes new life into the very heart of our town. What’s most exciting is that we can now share it with the community – a space that celebrates our heritage, supports local entrepreneurs and creates a destination Glossop can be proud of for generations to come.
The incredible space at Glossop Market Hall
“From the outset, our vision has been to give local businesses and independent makers the platform they deserve, while building a vibrant hub that showcases the very best in food, drink and retail curated by our operator, The Hospitality Collective. Glossop Market Hall is set to thrive once again – a real gift to the town and the perfect way to kick off the festive season.”
The Food Hall at Glossop Market Hall
Wagyu Lookin’ At?: Legendary wagyu burgers and loaded fries .
Pattersons: Famous for their brined, seasoned, and double-dunked fried chicken .
Bold Street Coffee: The Liverpool and Manchester institution pouring award-winning coffee .
Pizza Dealers: Hand-stretched, slow-fermented dough without pretence .
Kefi Social: Greek street food featuring fresh gyros and souvlaki .
Hello Oriental: Authentic East Asian street food .
Baci Di Gelato: Delicious artisanal gelato .
The Arcade at Glossop Food Hall
The Bottle Store: Curated small-batch spirits and liqueurs .
Norris Master Florists: Award-winning floristry and seasonal wreaths .
Hello Oriental Grocery Store: A one-stop shop for Asian ingredients and bubble tea .
Moda Vintage: Sustainable vintage sportswear from the 80s, 90s, and 00s .
B&V Doggo General Store: Serving the community’s dogs with a curated range of goods.
Gypset and the Rainbow: Vintage eclectic items and small-batch productions.
Arrest made after woman reportedly raped in tent in Manchester city centre
Daisy Jackson
A man has been arrested on suspicion of rape after a woman was allegedly attacked in a tent in Manchester city centre.
City centre patrols responded to a report of a nearby disturbance in the afternoon of Saturday 29 November.
They saw a man and a woman in Lincoln Square where the woman, who is in her 20s, disclosed to officers that she had been raped by the man the previous night.
GMP officers believe they had spoken to one another in Manchester city centre on Friday 28 November, before going into a tent on Lincoln Square, where the assault took place.
The 30-year-old man was arrested, has been questioned over the weekend, and released with strict bail conditions not to enter the city centre.
Local patrols are making enquiries and investigating this incident, and urging anyone with concerns or information to come forward.
Detectives from City of Manchester CID continue to investigate and anyone with information to help with enquiries should directly report it to GMP.
Superintendent Nicola Williams, of GMP’s City of Manchester district, said: “Our priority is supporting the victim through what is a really distressing time. We are working with her and specialist support agencies to work at a pace that will establish the full details and secure the best evidence to bring a successful prosecution.
“Our enquiries so far suggest this incident took place on Friday evening after the offender began interacting with the victim in the city centre at around 10pm.
“It is shortly after when the offence is believed to have taken place, and we are doing all we can to understand exactly what has happened so we can bring the offender to justice for crimes committed.
“While we have not been able to secure charges at this stage, we are in contact with the Crown Prosecution Service to help bring a case to court. In the meantime, we have strict bail conditions on the suspect not to enter Manchester city centre while enquiries continue.
“There are no other suspects we are looking for. Officers are in the area engaging with those who frequent the area so they can come to us with any information that may seem insignificant but could help us.
“We already have increased patrols across the city on Friday and Saturday nights to help ensure woman and girls can feel safe in the nighttime economy. We know thousands of residents and visitors enjoy Manchester’s nightlife week in week out, and if you are out and about you will continue to see our officers on hand to provide reassurance and security in the coming weeks.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police directly online or via 101 quoting incident 1613 of 29/11/2025. Details can be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Daisy Jackson -
18th November 2021 
