Major developer sets out its own Northern Powerhouse vision

PEEL GROUP founder John Whittaker has made a rare public statement to endorse the concept of the Northern Powerhouse, and to urge the public and private sectors to work together to make it a reality.

The group, whose assets include Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, said it had identified 150 projects across its portfolio which sit within the Northern Powerhouse.

It has launched a consultation document ‘Peel in the Northern Powerhouse’, which it says “encourages a fresh dialogue between business, Government and other Northern-based partners”.

Peel’s investment portfolio across the North includes Manchester’s MediaCityUK, the ports of Liverpool and Salford, as well as Liverpool’s John Lennon, Durham Tees Valley, and Doncaster Sheffield airports.

John Whittaker has written to David Cameron and George Osborne outlining the group’s strategy, and where it feels it needs assistance: “We have a long-term vision for our investments and believe that coupled with the Government’s growth policies and direct investment in infrastructure and skills, our investments can make an important contribution to the aims of the Northern Powerhouse.

“We believe that the Government is making great strides in facilitating a new approach to Northern growth. However, it is clear that more needs to be done to give the private sector the confidence and ability to deliver in the North, across a range of issues such as transport and logistics, communities, energy and resources. 

“We very much look forward to working alongside our many partners, local authorities and the Government to help deliver the Northern Powerhouse.”

Peel said it would publish an investment prospectus in early 2016, setting out in more detail the contribution that it and its partners can make.