AGMA’s concerns over £8m Daresbury RGF bid

THE Association of Greater Manchester Authorities has raised concerns over a £8m Regional Growth Fund bid by the Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus.

While acknowledging that Daresbury is a key regional asset, AGMA says that contrary to claims in its funding submission, it and the Manchester LEP does not support the RGF bid, which is estimated would create 103 direct jobs and nearly 3,100 indirect jobs.

In his submission to the AGMA leadership team, Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester City Council raises a number of key questions over the Daresbury bid. These are:

• There does not appear to be an assessment of how development of the Daresbury site sits within the wider regional context nor its ability to bring additional business into the North West. We would want to ensure that this activity complemented that within Greater Manchester, notably in the (Oxford Road) Corridor, and did not simply move business around the region.
• This bid for grant funding runs counter to the Greater Manchester approach, that we should be moving more towards an investment model rather than gap-financing.
•  Daresbury is clearly positioning itself as a major regional asset and is keen to secure LEP support. While it is evident that it is a major asset, in order to maximise the benefits for the region and to ensure its success, Greater Manchester (and its sub-regional partners) need to secure more direct influence over the strategic direction of the campus. Without this stronger connection there is the potential for the Campus to compete with rather than complement the growth of science and technology elsewhere in the region, the submission states.

Hungry for more property news? Click here to visit our dedicated channel. 

The shadow Manchester LEP board has also expressed concern that: ” the bid had been put forward as receiving the support of the Manchester LEP when in fact no approach to the shadow LEP or AGMA seeking views on the bid had been made”.

According to a briefing prepared by AGMA for the shadow Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, the Daresbury RGF bid, if successful, will be used to secure enabling works, provide a business hub and business support as well as acquiring and prepare land for development.

Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus is a joint venture between The North West Regional Development Agency and Newton-le-Willows-based developer Langtree Group.