Lancashire LEP to drive county-wide growth with £70m gov investment

The Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has issued confirmation of a multi-million pound investment allocation from the Government to drive new infrastructure, skills and regeneration projects across the county.

The settlement, which is worth £69.8m and forms part of the government’s national Growth Deal programme, is one of the biggest in the country.

Among the priority projects to be kick-started by the funding allocation is the new Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre NW at the Lancashire Aerospace Enterprise Zone, Samlesbury.

The cash boost will also support the South Lancaster Housing Growth Initiative, the delivery of the £38m Winter Gardens conference centre and hotel in Blackpool and the North West Burnley Growth Corridor.

Other big county projects to be backed by the funding include the transport infrastructure improvements of Pennine Gateways in Blackburn with Darwen, and the Lomeshaye Industrial Estate Extension.

These projects alone are collectively anticipated to create or support almost 11,000 jobs, deliver 3,900 new homes and attract around £1.2bn in further investment over the next five years.

Lancashire LEP chair Edwin Booth said: “The Government has challenged all regions to be bold and ambitious with regards to bids for funding, but also demanded that delivery is managed in a rigorous, accountable and impactful manner.

“Lancashire has proved with previous large-scale funding projects, such as the City Deal and earlier Growth Deals, that it has the ability to effectively utilise public money to leverage significant private sector investment.”

He added: “We have also demonstrated to government our ambition, appetite and capacity to become a key economic force within the Northern Powerhouse, driving sustainable and transformational growth throughout Lancashire which is aligned to both the LEP’s long-term strategic priorities and the government’s vision of a resurgent, productive and prosperous North.”

Speaking further, Mr Booth said the LEP is now looking forward to working with the Government and industry partners to “play our full role in delivering the new national Industrial Strategy”.