Political leaders, regional partners and major businesses have come together in Westminster to call for urgent action to unlock investment and growth across the East Midlands by addressing the transport constraints at Junction 24 of the M1.
The event, hosted by the MP for Rushcliffe, James Naish MP, brought together MPs from across the region including Amanda Hack, Jonathan Davies, Catherine Atkinson, Samantha Niblett, Jacob Collier and Baggy Shanker, alongside Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, and senior representatives from the private sector and government departments.
Simon Lightwood MP, Minister for Local Transport, also addressed attendees on the Government’s support for the programme alongside his department’s intent to work with East Midlands Freeport and East Midlands Combined County Authority’s commitment to delivery.
The event marked the secure the investment needed to improve the junction and surrounding transport network – a critical step in unlocking the full potential of East Midlands Freeport, one of the UK’s most significant regeneration opportunities, and the Mayor’s Trent Arc Growth Corridor.
A new report setting out the national importance of Junction 24 and the economic opportunities at stake was shared with attendees. It highlights how addressing the bottleneck would unlock billions in investment, support supply chains, and enable the growth of advanced manufacturing, logistics and clean energy industries in the region.
Junction 24 sits at the heart of the UK’s strategic network, serving East Midlands Airport – the country’s busiest express air freight hub – alongside major rail freight and road connections used by businesses across the UK.
Without improvements to the junction, significant investment opportunities risk being delayed or diverted elsewhere.
The discussion also highlighted growing international interest in the East Midlands as a location for new investment – but warned that global investors are working to tight timelines and require confidence that infrastructure will be delivered. Businesses are already making decisions about where to locate new operations, and while the East Midlands is seen as globally competitive, there is a risk the UK could miss out if key infrastructure constraints are not addressed in time.
James Naish MP, Member of Parliament for Rushcliffe, said: “It was a pleasure to host colleagues from across the East Midlands in Westminster to discuss the importance of improving transport connectivity around Junction 24.
“This junction sits at the heart of our regional economy and our national logistics network. Unlocking its capacity will help deliver jobs, investment and long-term growth for communities across the East Midlands and beyond.
“I look forward to continuing to work with public and private sector partners to make the case for the investment needed.”
Tom Newman-Taylor, Chief Executive of East Midlands Freeport, said: “We are already delivering. Public and private partners are committing investment, detailed work is underway, and we are coming to Government with credible solutions to unlock this nationally significant junction.
“There is real global appetite to invest in the East Midlands across sectors like advanced manufacturing, clean energy and logistics. Investors are planning now for projects that will come online by 2028 – during the lifetime of this Parliament.
“But if we are going to meet those timelines, decisions on Junction 24 need to be made by around 2027. Without that certainty, investment will move elsewhere in the UK or overseas.
“The opportunity is real, the partnerships are in place, and the programme is ready to move forward – what we need now is timely national backing.
“The level of support we saw in Westminster shows that there is strong regional backing for action. Now it’s time to work together to move this forward.”
Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said: “The East Midlands is central to the UK’s logistics and manufacturing economy, and Junction 24 plays a crucial role in connecting businesses to national and global markets.
“If we are serious about driving economic growth and supporting the industries of the future, we must ensure that our infrastructure keeps pace with the opportunities ahead. By working together, we can unlock the full potential of the East Midlands and create new jobs, investment and prosperity.”
East Midlands Freeport is expected to create 28,000 jobs and generate £9 billion in economic growth across the region over the coming years. However, partners warn that infrastructure constraints – particularly around Junction 24 – must be addressed to enable the full scale of development and investment.
The Freeport and its partners are now working with Government, local authorities and industry to develop solutions that can unlock the junction and enable future growth.