Bold Atlantic Gateway vision unveiled
AN AMBITIOUS regeneration blueprint which could transform the North West, creating 250,000 jobs and 400,000 new homes over the next 20 years was being launched today.
Business leaders and policiticians from across the region met at the Daresbury Science and Innovation Centre this morning for the launch of the Atlantic Gateway strategy.
Atlantic Gateway is a vision for a sustainable economic zone including Merseyside through to north Cheshire, Chester, Halton and Warrington into Greater Manchester which will establish an area of economic growth second only to London within the UK.
Hosted by the North West Development Agency the launch saw representatives from the Liverpool and Manchester city regions agree to work together with partners including the NWDA to turn the strategy into a reality.
Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “Atlantic Gateway is a bold and innovative collaboration across and between city regions to create a growth area which will rank among Europe’s strongest urban economies.
“Through the framework agreed today the Atlantic Gateway partners can make it simpler and more enticing for businesses to invest in the area as a whole, by enhancing the offer of the cities in partnership with other key places.”
“Businesses need the right conditions for growth – this means an environment which is not constrained by infrastructure, connectivity and municipal competition.
“Our desire is simply to improve the environment for all businesses to invest in order to create stronger city regions and North West as a whole.”
Four areas have been identified for the partners to tackle jointly. They are on innovation in key sectors such as freight transport infrastructure; waste and energy infrastructure; and attracting and retaining talent.
The launch came despite criticism of the concept from Sir Howard Bernstein, one of the key figures in regeneration in the region, and chief executive of Manchester City Council.
In a report for the council’s executive two weeks ago he said Atlantic Gateway has “the potential to undermine and dilute economic growth in the North West.”
Speaking today Cllr John Merry, leader of Salford City Council, said: “This framework of collaborative working between the city regions offers us a unique opportunity and reflects the changing role of the public sector.
“The Atlantic Gateway framework has the potential for finding more innovative solutions by working outside the traditional administrative boundaries of the individual local authorities.”
Cllr Flo Clucas, deputy leader of Liverpool City Council, said the strategy “shows the way forward for the Liverpool and Manchester city regions”.
“Rather than being seen as rivals this framework brings together these city regions with the potential for unrivalled and sustainable economic growth.
“Together we can become not only one of Europe’s leading economic regions but a global force.”
