Green status will add £650m to city’s economy
GREATER Manchester is to go green on the back of Government plans announced in the Pre-Budget Report designating it as a low carbon economic area.
The Low Carbon Economic Area (LCEA) status will build on the city’s strong track record in regeneration in the built environment and its university and research capabilities in the low carbon built environment, the Government said.
The initiative is expected to save six million tonnes of carbon; support 34,800 jobs; and generate an extra £650m for the economy.
It will involve a five-year “retrofit” programme, improving the insulation of thousands of homes and offices in Greater Manchester. Small-scale renewable energy technologies will also be installed and smart meters will be introduced so people can see how much energy they are using.
A “low carbon laboratory” will also be established focusing on the research strengths of the universities along the Oxford Road corridor where new innovative technologies will be developed and tested.
There will also be work on the development of new finance initiatives such as mortgage products linked to carbon savings.
AGMA welcomed the news, as did Manchester lawyer Keith Davidson, partner at Pannone, who is also the city’s Environment Commissioner.
He said: “If we are to rise to the twin challenges of climate change and energy security then the solutions must be closely connected to other agendas, those of regeneration and sustainable economic development. This is what we are doing here.”
Initial work on the design of the programme has been carried out by teams from Greater Manchester’s commissions for the Environment and the New Economy alongside those from government including Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Treasury, Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Communities and Local Government.
In addition, assistance has been provided by the Northwest Regional; Development Agency and the Homes and Community Agency.
Two other significant announcements were the electrification of rail lines in the region and the formal creation of a Manchester city region.
Chancellor Alistair Darling confirmed that the government will proceed with a £1.1bn rail electrification programme for the Great Western Main Line and routes across Liverpool, Manchester and Preston.
It was also confirmed that, following a pilot, Manchester’s City Region status will be formalised, along with new powers on adult skills and training and giving the region a stronger role on transport decision making.
