Lancashire puts proposals forward for investment zone

Plans for a new investment zone which has the potential to create thousands of jobs have been submitted to central government.

The proposal, put forward by Lancashire County Council alongside the county’s district councils and other partners, outlines ambitious plans for a zone that would span Lancashire using a series of interlinked ‘enterprise corridors’ and employment clusters.

Investment zones are a new government initiative which aims to attract investment and unlock development and economic activity.

Lancashire was included in a shortlist of 38 areas where the government is considering establishing the zones.

The proposed and ambitious Lancashire Investment Zone would sit at the heart of an emerging pan-Lancashire Growth Plan – Lancashire 2050 – which also includes Blackburn with Darwen and Blackpool councils.

The sites and clusters are located within ‘corridors of enterprise’ that reflect Lancashire’s wider economic development programmes, key sector activities and major infrastructure priorities, with each strategic site designed to bring development forward.

Sector specialisms will also align with wider regional and national clusters such as nuclear, cyber technology and advanced engineering and manufacturing.

County Councillor Phillippa Williamson, leader of the county council and chair of Lancashire Leaders, said: “A lot has already been achieved to realise Lancashire’s potential, and we are keen to build on this, working closely with our partners to help drive forward major development sites included in our bid to government.

“There is massive potential across Lancashire and we are ready to move at pace using our existing development pipeline as well as new, ambitious opportunities including those aligned to the development of our historic new ‘Lancashire 2050’ strategy.”

The Lancashire Investment Zone proposed area would have three interlinked strategic areas. They include:

• The North-South Enterprise Corridor would span from as far north as Heysham, through central Lancashire and down into West Lancashire.
• The East Lancashire Enterprise Corridor would cover sites from Samlesbury and across into Burnley, Hyndburn and Pendle.
• The Fylde Coast Enterprise Corridor would cover areas across the Fylde, Wyre, and Blackpool coast.

According to the government, the zones would seek to have planning flexibility to assist with their development and tax relief for businesses who relocate there.

Lancashire has plans for major development and infrastructure projects with an estimated value of more than £20bn billion.