NWDA unveils priority development sites

THE Northwest Regional Development Agency has earmarked 35 development sites across the region that it thinks are crucial to the economic growth of the region.

The development agency said the chosen strategic sites, which update a previous list with 15 new sites, will strengthen private sector confidence and give a clear sense of direction to the region.

New sites on the list include central Chester and Warrington; Carlisle city centre; central Bolton; Manchester’s Oxford Road area; central Preston and Dunningsbridge in Sefton, known as the Port of Liverpool Economic Corridor.

Sites have been chosen because they provide opportunities for future investment across the region; provide inter-modal freight facilities and terminals to encourage sustainable freight distribution; and support economic growth and economic restructuring across the region.

But a strong emphasis has also been placed on encouraging the development of knowledge based industry within regeneration areas, as well as building on the region’s existing cluster of knowledge based activity, particularly around universities and colleges.

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said previous successful projects demonstrated the importance of strategic regional sites, pointing to Chester Business Park, 3MG (Ditton International Freight Terminal), the Estuary in Liverpool, Westlakes Science Park in West Cumbria, Kingsway in Rochdale and the former Royal Ordnance Factory in Chorley.

The new list of strategic regional sites includes 20 retained sites from the previous list and 15 new sites; 5 sites from the previous list have been removed.

Mr Broomhead said: “The agency’s review has resulted in a number of amendments to the list of sites. I am confident this new list will give a clear sense of direction to public and private sector partners as we start to move out of recession and into recovery.”

Designated strategic regional sites:

Cheshire
• Alderley Park, Macclesfield
• Basford, Crewe
• Central Chester (New)
• Central Warrington (New)
• Omega, Warrington

Cumbria
• Carlisle City Centre (New)
• Kingmoor, Carlisle
• Lillyhall Business Park, near Workington (New)
• Westlakes Science Park, West Cumbria

Greater Manchester
• Ashton Moss, Tameside
• Barton (Port Salford)
• Central Bolton (New)
• Central Park, Manchester
• Kingsway, Rochdale
• Manchester Piccadilly Basin/ Oxford Road Area (New)
• Salford Quays/ Irwell Corridor Area (New)
• Wigan South Central Area (New)

Lancashire
• Bailrigg, Lancaster
• Central Preston (New)
• Cuerden, South Ribble
• Freckleton Street Area, Blackburn (New)
• ROF Chorley
• Salmesbury, Lancs (New)
• Whitebirk, near Blackburn

Merseyside
• Birkenhead Docks, Wirral (New)
• Daresbury, Runcorn
• Ditton, Widnes
• Dunningsbridge, Sefton (Port of Liverpool Economic Corridor) (New)
• Estuary, Liverpool
• Liverpool North Docks (New)
• Liverpool Pall Mall, Liverpool City Centre (New)
• Liverpool Science Park (Edge Lane)
• Liverpool University Edge (Liverpool Knowledge Quarter)
• Parkside, St Helens
• Wirral International Business Park,
• Bromborough

Deletions

• Chester Business Park
• Carrington, Trafford
• Davenport Green, Trafford
• Kings Business Park, Knowsley
• Twelve Quays, Birkenhead