Northern Gateway is UK’s investment ticket
The Northern Gateway Development Zone (NGDZ), described as “the UK’s investment hot ticket” because of the massive economy-changing HS2 project, is being promoted at international property conference and exhibition MIPIM in Cannes this week.
The NGDZ is the area that bridges the gap between Birmingham and Manchester bringing together seven local authorities and two Local Enterprise Partnerships in a unique and diverse ensemble to supercharge the impact of being at the heart of the nation’s High Speed rail investment.
In a series of events business and council leaders from Cheshire and Staffordshire will explain how the NGDZ is set to transform the UK economy and the businesses and lives of the people in a region that connects north with south, east with west.
On the first day of the conference tomorrow (Tuesday, March 14), the Northern Gateway Development Zone reception will unveil the partnership’s striking new branding, hosted by independent NGDZ chair, Jackie Sadek who is also chief executive of UK Regeneration and a former Government regeneration adviser.
The event will feature a keynote address from Duncan Sutherland of the HS2 board and include contributions from Cllr Rachel Bailey, leader, Cheshire East Council, Cllr Abi Brown, deputy leader, Stoke on Trent City Council; Cllr Patrick Farrington, leader, Stafford Borough Council; Cllr Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council; Philip Cox, chief executive of Cheshire and Warrington LEP; and David Frost, chair, Stoke and Staffs LEP.
Sadek said: “There is now an accelerated platform to deliver 100,000 homes and 120,000 new jobs in the Northern Gateway Development Zone enabled by HS2. The opportunity is so immense that it needs an exciting new name, new logo and new brand and a whole new approach that truly communicates that this really is the UK’s hot investment ticket and the place where the UK connects.”
The NGDZ push continues on Wednesday (March 15) with a presentation of the ‘HS2 Competitive Crewe’ masterplan based on the Government’s investment in the HS2 interchange at Crewe which will forever place the region at the heart of the UK’s transport network.
Two events are also lined up on the penultimate day of the conference on Thursday (March 16), the first ‘Developing Staffordshire’, which will focus on the opportunities to turn Stafford into a sub-regional centre at the forefront of the Midlands Engine and HS2.
The second is a guest talk and Q&A with legendary record producer, hit maker, rail infrastructure expert and Cheshire resident, Pete Waterman.
‘The Hitman and Her: In Conversation with Pete Waterman and Jackie Sadek’ will provide guests with the opportunity to quiz the duo about the transformation that both the HS2 and NGDZ projects will bring to Cheshire and Staffordshire, as well as Pete talking about his specially compiled MIPIM playlist, which includes classic hits like Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give you Up’ and new tunes like Rag N Bone Man’s, ‘Human’.
Sadek said: “The NGDZ is seven local authorities and two LEPs unified in their efforts to take substantive and long term advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity through the HS2 project for the benefit of new and existing communities.
“This partnership has already received significant investment from Government to progress a Growth Strategy and individual partners are complementing this with their own investment in detailed master-planning exercises which will guide development opportunities.
“We are creating a breadth and depth of investment opportunities that cannot be replicated in the confines of a city region. Previously under the radar, this hyper-connected and diverse interconnected economy is in the perfect place to grow quickly, providing a real high-quality alternative and polluted big cities.”
