NWDA asset sell-off to start in April

THE sell-off of property assets owned by the Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) will start in April.

Plans for the disposal of regional development agency (RDA) assets have been set out by Ministers to “achieve the best possible outcome for the local area”, but also stress the need to “achieve the best value for the public purse”.

The eight English RDAs are being wound up after the coalition government decided they should be replaced by smaller organisations called Local Enterprise Partnerships which will launch in April. The RDAs will close by April 2012.

The NWDA has around 30 property assets including Lea Green Industrial Estate in St Helens, Wavertree Technology Park in Liverpool and Manchester’s Ancoats Urban Village. The full list of RDA assets can be seen here: www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2010/DEP2010-1895.doc

Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk said: “It is our priority that the transition from RDAs to a new economic delivery landscape is as smooth, effective and efficient as possible. Part of this process is being clear to all interested parties about the precise process and the timeline we are working to.

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“We want to ensure that the process provides the best use of tax-payer money, and that where other parties want to take on projects these will be both successful in their own right, and help the Government to boost growth.”

RDAs have now submitted plans for their assets to the Government which will review them before being signed off by RDA boards. The Growth White Paper published in October offered no guarantee that RDA assets or proceeds from their sale would remain in the region.