Pennine Lancashire Flying High
29.10.09
Pennine Lancashire local authorities and the NWDA have agreed the key priorities and in principle, funding for the future economic development of the area.
The priorities will be the basis of a Joint Investment Plan, which will include funding from European funds, Housing Market Renewal, NWDA, local authorities, LEGI and the Homes & Communities Agency.
The priorities are aerospace/advanced manufacturing; skills/higher education, digital and physical connectivity; and housing.
The NWDA has agreed in principle to grant Pennine Lancashire £20million over the next year to support these key economic issues and Joint Investment Plan.
The agreement has been secured following positive talks between the NWDA and the PLACE (Pennine Lancashire) Leaders, from each of the local authorities within Pennine Lancashire. This funding framework is the first in the region to be agreed by the NWDA.
The major investment will deliver key aspects of the Pennine Lancashire Multi Area Agreement, which was signed earlier this year. This funding will support higher value jobs and growth within the advanced manufacturing sector including aerospace and engineering; better skills provision; better transport links across the area and into Manchester; and more affordable and better quality housing and community areas.
The NWDA has also agreed to invest £200,000 towards setting up the ‘Pennine Lancashire Development Company’, which will deliver some of the projects on behalf of PLACE (Pennine Lancashire).
Councillor Michael Lee, Chair of PLACE (Pennine Lancashire) said: “This news is a real step forward for Pennine Lancashire and further strengthens our commitment to partnership working for the benefit of the area. The NWDA funding will form part of our investment framework which will allow us to plan our priorities and developments where they will have a greater impact both on the economy and well-being of local people.
“Pennine Lancashire has real growth potential and with this commitment from the NWDA, we can make an important contribution to the economy of the North West region.”
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive, NWDA said: “The Agency has worked closely with Pennine Lancashire Partners over the past 18 months to support development of the Multi-Area Agreement and to agree how we can best support its objectives. It is leading example of how the Agency, Local Authorities and other local partners can work together to prioritise public sector investment to help deliver sustainable economic growth that meets local need and regional ambitions.”
Local Government Minister Rosie Winterton welcomed the announcement. She said: "Today's financial commitment which the government has made through the Northwest RDA shows it is full-square behind local council leaders' vision have for Pennine Lancashire. This exactly the sort of local partnership working that regional bodies like MAAs are about.
"Together the RDA and councils can deliver a blueprint for a stronger local economy, more jobs, better transport links, and better quality affordable housing for the people of Lancashire."
Councillor Gordon Birtwistle, Leader Burnley Council added: “This investment, and pledge of continued funding from the NWDA tells us that even more positive change is on the horizon. Not only will this money go towards delivering Burnley Bridge Business Park and its 1500+ jobs, it will also support the long awaited Todmorden Curve development, one of key aims to improve connectivity of the town to Manchester and other vibrant economic areas.
“We fully welcome this support, not only for the future of Burnley, but for the whole of Pennine Lancashire whose future prosperity will benefit from this commitment.”
Mike Damms, chief executive of Chamber Of Commerce said: “As the business representative partner on PLACE, the Chamber welcomes that the actions that we have collectively identified as critical to Pennine Lancashire's economy have been afforded some real muscle.
“The investment is recognition of the shared sense of purpose and the trust between the Regional Development Agency and the local leadership in the public, private and voluntary sectors. We are especially pleased at the strong emphasis on the priorities of transport, skills, housing and support for higher value jobs, as they are fundamental to the competitiveness of business and improving life-chances in the area.”
End
Notes to editors:
This funding announcement will form part of the Pennine Lancashire investment framework and is based on four themes below:
Growth sectors – Aerospace/advanced manufacturing
A key theme of the MAA is to restructure the Pennine Lancashire economy to achieve long-term sustainable growth. PL has two prime aerospace contractors – BAe Systems and Rolls Royce, together with a significant number of subcontractors and support companies. There are numerous local companies which are not only beacons of innovation and best practice in PL, but also worldwide leaders in their sectors. These are engaged in a range of activities, including: advanced engineering, electronics, advanced flexible materials (high performing materials and composites) – that can increase productivity and investment. There is a critical mass of businesses in PL which support the health and social care industries. Linking to aerospace and expanding on the specialist activity in PL can provide a catalyst for significant GVA growth and contribute to the long-term restructuring of the economy. This type of intervention supported by infrastructure investment to deliver key strategic sites provides the basis/rationale for this investment framework.
Some of the investment will include support at:
• Whitebirk Strategic Investment Site
• Blackburn Knowledge Zone
• Burnley Bridge Business Park
• Burnley Education and Enterprise Zone
• Adrenalin Gateway, Rossendale
Skills/higher education, attainment and investment
A key theme of the MAA is to restructure the PL economy to achieve long-term sustainable economic growth. The MAA highlights the need to ensure that our HE provision in PL acts as a catalyst to support our economic aspirations. It acknowledges the need to retain and attract more graduates, link effectively to transfer knowledge to local businesses, to embed college site development into our plans for strategic sites, and to support enterprise and entrepreneurship. The MAA is clear that this theme must link to the growth sectors identified in the PL Integrated Economic Strategy and the wider region, and through the MAA the relationship between PLACE and HEEL (Higher Education in East Lancashire group) has been strengthened providing a strategic joint response to addressing both the supply and demand issues necessary to increase GVA in the PL economy. The MAA also sets out a commitment to ensure that the needs of employers and the wider economy are reflected in the education and training provision in the area. PLACE has charged the PL Employment and Skills Board with ensuring this happens, as well as maximising the mainstream welfare to work provision, and joining up worklessness interventions of the respective areas.
Some of the investment will support:
• Widen Adult participation in HE/ FE
• Develop links to education and employment
• Graduates into Industry Programme/Graduate Retention
• Public Sector Apprenticeships
• Improve/strengthen delivery networks
• Future Jobs Fund
Digital and physical connectivity
Connectivity is a key theme of the MAA; despite its proximity to economically successful City Regions (Manchester and Leeds) PL has not capitalised on this opportunity. Evidence suggests that this, in part, is due to poor transport links. This has not only constrained the PL economy but has negatively impacted on wider regional growth. Improving rail links to Manchester are a key priority of the MAA; it is accepted that connecting to these growth economies is also important to attract mobile capital as a result of a more highly skilled workforce relocating to PL. The MAA draws together strategic transport priorities with the needs of the economy and the rebalancing of the housing offer. It also highlights poor digital connectivity as a barrier to growth. Patchy broadband coverage across PL is a growing problem in an economy increasingly reliant on exchanging electronic information. It constrains local enterprise growth, prevents rural communities engaging in the information society and means that PL can not support the growth of regional projects such as MediaCityUK in Salford.
Some of the investment will support:
• Manchester – Burnley - Accrington Rail Link (Todmorden Curve)
• Clitheroe – Manchester Rail Link
• Rawtenstall – Manchester Rail Service
• A56 Villages Bypass, Pendle
• Pennine Reach Project linking Blackburn, Accrington and Darwen
• Engage with Creative Lancashire to promote growth of digital and media companies
• Work with Media City to establish links with PL Economy
Housing
Housing is one of the main priorities identified in the MAA. In order for PL to achieve its MAA aspirations - supporting the economy and housing renewal - investment is needed in key sites and places, not only to provide employment opportunities but to improve the quality of the built environment to attract more visitors and private sector investment. Fundamentally, the future housing market must be shaped to underpin the interventions being made in the economy: the housing offer must be adapted to suit 21st century economic and social needs. Pennine Lancashire needs to continue to invest in existing housing stock and to prepare for future growth. The PLHS sets out plans to do this, actively seeking to prepare for and stimulate market opportunities for growth. The central element is the Market Progression Model [MPM]. This will help us design measures according to specific market conditions: some will deliver neighbourhood regeneration at the same time as others will deliver growth.
Some of the investment will support:
• Management and future development of the HMR Programme
• Delivering housing growth under RSS in ways which support economic regeneration and HMR
• Address low demand terraced areas through masterplans and area based planning frameworks.
• Deliver the affordable housing programme
• Ensure RSL stock meets Decent Homes Standard
• Deliver affordable housing in rural areas.
• Improve housing to improve health and well being of residents across Pennine Lancashire
For further information, contact communications officer Lucie Higham on (01254) 585777 or email lucie.higham@blackburn.gov.uk