Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid (pictured), has announced a government cash boost of £69.8 million for Lancashire to help create jobs, support businesses and encourage growth.
An Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre on the Lancashire Enterprise Zone, South Lancaster Housing Growth and Infrastructure projects and a 21st Century Conference Centre and Hotel in Blackpool are just some of the locally-chosen projects set to benefit over the next few years, alongside others which improve educational attainment, create jobs, build homes or improve infrastructure.
This latest award of ‘Local Growth Funding’ is on top of £251 million of Growth Deals funding already awarded to Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership. This total investment could see up to 11,000 jobs created, 3,900 homes built and £1.2 billion attracted in extra investment over the next 5 years.
Communities Secretary, Sajid Javid, said:
“As part of efforts to deliver an economy that works for everyone, the Government is equipping local people with the resources they need to drive forward local growth.
That is why we’re giving £69.8 million of new money to Lancashire to give businesses the support and opportunities they need to achieve their potential – on top of the £251 million we have already awarded”.
Northern Powerhouse Minister, Andrew Percy, said:
“Across the Northern Powerhouse local people will benefit from £556 million extra investment thanks to these growth deals. This is more government money directly invested into the Northern Powerhouse. It is further proof that we will back the people of the North with the resources they need to reach their full potential.”
Chair of the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership, Edwin Booth, said:
“Our £69.8 million Growth Deal 3 allocation further confirms the ability of local partners to set out a truly ambitious and deliverable growth programme for Lancashire. In the coming years, Lancashire will play an even greater role in powering forward a successful North of England with local partners at the forefront of addressing the nation’s productivity challenges.”
Chair of the Lancashire Combined Authority, Simon Blackburn, said:
“I am delighted that the joint strategic case-making of the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership and Lancashire Combined Authority has been recognised by Government. There is still much to do, but we are delivering a local growth programme that drives forward our growth ambitions whilst also delivering economic benefit in our most deprived areas”.
In Lancashire, Growth Deal investment is supporting over 40 major initiatives such as:
- University of Central Lancashire’s £30 million Engineering Innovation Centre, which will deliver state of the art engineering facilities for both research and teaching, as part of the University’s ambitious £200 million transformation of its Preston City Centre campus.
- The development of a £10 million National Energy HQ, located on the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone, which will meet the training and development needs of the energy, oil and gas sectors.
- The £12 million Burnley-Pendle Growth Corridor Improvements Scheme, which will enable additional capacity on the M65 industrial corridor through highway improvements at key junctions, with improved facilities and links at adjacent rail hubs, to support the delivery of key employment sites and housing growth locations.
Now this latest allocation of £1.8 billion government investment – including £69.8 million in Lancashire – will help do even more to benefit the lives of local people across the country.
This is part of government efforts to build a Northern Powerhouse to help the great cities and towns of the North pool their strengths and take on the world. Step by step we are making the Northern Powerhouse a reality with over a million businesses involved, foreign direct investment up by a quarter and 187,000 jobs created in the past year alone.
Across the Northern Powerhouse local people are set to benefit from £556 million investment with the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership receiving £69.8 million to spend on projects including:
- The Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre North West at the Lancashire Enterprise Zone at Samlesbury. The Local Enterprise Partnership is working with Sheffield University to drive world class productivity and innovation gains through key SME supply chains
- South Lancaster Housing Growth Initiative. Local partners are bringing forward ambitious housing growth plans with Garden Village status linked to the expansion of a world class university, with both elements underpinned by major transport infrastructure improvements
- 21st Century Conference Centre and Hotel in Blackpool. The radical development of the Winter Gardens will enable Blackpool to re-establish its presence as a leading national conference destination, as part of a wider transformation programme to support the economic renewal of the town
- North West Burnley Growth Corridor. This development will unlock new housing and employment growth opportunities in Padiham and will link with new flood defence proposals.
- Pennine Gateways in Blackburn with Darwen. Key transport infrastructure improvements at gateways to the M65 (at Junctions 4, 5 & 6) to improve the commercial deliverability of a range of housing and employment growth sites
- Lomeshaye Industrial Estate Extension. Growth Deal investment will support the extension of one of East Lancashire’s largest strategic employment sites within the M65 industrial corridor.
