LEPs aim to bridge gap between North and West Midlands

A NEW attempt to bridge the gap between the Northern Powerhouse and the West Midlands Engine for Growth has been launched by local enterprise partnerships in North Staffordshire and Cheshire.

The Northern Gateway Development Zone, which is aiming to spearhead economic growth in the territories between the two combined authority blocs, is a ground-breaking collaboration of seven local authorities and the Cheshire and Warrington and Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEPs.

The new body wants to capitalise on the investment potential arising from the power bases together with other initiatives such as HS2 and the infrastructure improvements it will deliver.

The Northern Gateway Partnership aims to unlock major new growth and investment opportunities which could deliver more than 100,000 new homes and 120,000 new jobs by 2040 by creating a new growth zone at the connecting gateway to the two areas.

To drive the project forward the two LEPs have signed a concordat committing the two organisations, supported by the wider network of local authority partners, to work together to ensure a plan for sustainable targeted growth can be achieved.

The Northern Gateway spans Cheshire and the North of Staffordshire including the city of Stoke on Trent, Crewe and the A500 corridor. The partners working together to deliver growth opportunities – to be framed by a new Growth Strategy –  in addition to the two LEPs include Cheshire East Council, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Newcastle-Under-Lyme Borough Council, Stafford Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire Moorlands District Council and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin has previously confirmed his intention to introduce a dedicated Hybrid Bill to bring HS2 to the North of England sooner than planned, subject to further analysis and decisions on the preferred route. The prospect of this investment in HS2 to the North is the catalyst for this new growth focused partnership.

The Northern Gateway partners are also committed to capitalising immediately on the Cheshire/Staffordshire region’s unique position bridging link between the Midlands Engine and the Northern Powerhouse.

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP chairman David Frost said: “Staffordshire and Cheshire are in a pivotal location at the heart of the UK, linking the Midlands Engine with the Northern Powerhouse. This innovative new partnership represents a great opportunity with massive potential by working together to benefit local people by bringing jobs and growth to our area.”

Christine Gaskell, chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, said: “The Northern Gateway Partnership will put the North and the Midlands in a strong position to deliver nationally significant economic growth, capitalising on the opportunities and investment that will be generated by HS2.

“Committing to work across boundaries and regions will enable us to work together in a joined up and strategic way, with the backing of Government, to maximise our role in delivering the Northern Powerhouse and Midlands Engine.”