LEPs bid for £2bn fund
Local Enterprise Partnerships across the region are today submitting their local growth plans, in a bid to win a portion of a £2bn government pot.
The Local Growth Fund forms part of the Growth Deal which was launched by the Government in July in response to a report from Lord Heseltine. The Government committed to negotiate a growth deal with every LEP in the country. The final deadline for submissions is 1 April 2014.
The Liverpool City Region's plan is themed around projects including the Liverpool city region freight and logistics hub, Liverpool city centre, access to the Port of Liverpool, Liverpool city region low carbon region, and a city region capital investment fund to co-invest in key capital schemes that will deliver jobs.
The application from the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities is focused primarily on transport, with a wishlist of 12 schemes totalling £310m, in addition to a minor schemes programme totalling £200m. AGMA is also applying for a funding package to support inward investment in the National Graphene Institute.
The growth plan from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership concentrates predominantly on delivering housing development, with plans to deliver 30,000 new homes in the region over the next 10 years. The LEP's application is also focused on the rebuilding of local economies around East Lancashire and Blackpool.
Details of the plans from the Cheshire & Warrington and Cumbria LEPs were unavailable when the LEPs were contacted by Place North West this morning.
