Strategic sites list expands to 35

27 July 2009 08:58 Comments (0)

The North West Development Agency has completed a review of strategic regional sites, resulting in a new longer list of 35 developments.

The agency said the enlarged list took into account the requirements of European Regional Development Fund essential allocations and the Regional Spatial Strategy, issued by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in September 2008.

In its statement accompanying the list's publication the NWDA said: "The over riding purpose of strategic regional sites is to give a clear sense of strategic priorities and direction to all public and private sector partners, critical to the effective implementation of the Regional Economic Strategy."

The new list includes 20 retained sites and 15 new sites; 5 sites from the previous list were removed.

Designated Strategic Regional Sites

Cheshire

Alderley Park, Macclesfield
Basford, Crewe
Central Chester (new)
Central Warrington (new)
Omega, Warrington

Cumbria

Carlisle City Centre (new)
Kingmoor, Carlisle
Lillyhall Business Park, near Workington (new)
Westlakes Science Park, West Cumbria

Greater Manchester

Ashton Moss, Tameside
Barton (Port Salford)
Central Bolton (new)
Central Park, Manchester
Kingsway, Rochdale
Manchester Piccadilly Basin/ Oxford Road Area (new)
Salford Quays/Irwell Corridor Area (new)
Wigan South Central Area (new)

Lancashire

Bailrigg, Lancaster
Central Preston (new)
Cuerden, South Ribble
Freckleton Street Area, Blackburn (new)
ROF Chorley
Salmesbury, Lancs (new)
Whitebirk, near Blackburn

Merseyside

Birkenhead Docks, Wirral (new)
Daresbury, Runcorn
Ditton, Widnes
Dunningsbridge, Sefton (Port of Liverpool Economic Corridor) (new)
Estuary, Liverpool
Liverpool North Docks (new)
Liverpool Pall Mall, Liverpool City Centre (new)
Liverpool Science Park (Edge Lane)
Liverpool University Edge (Liverpool Knowledge Quarter)
Parkside, St Helens
Wirral International Business Park,
Bromborough

Deletions

Cheshire

Chester Business Park

Greater Manchester

Carrington, Trafford
Davenport Green, Trafford

Merseyside

Kings Business Park, Knowsley
Twelve Quays, Birkenhead

The level of investment and activity at each site is dependent on individual circumstances. To be included on the list, sites must have the potential to:

Provide a portfolio of attractive opportunities for future investment across the region,
Encourage the development of knowledge-based industry within areas of regeneration,
Build on the region's existing cluster of knowledge based activity, especially close to universities and other research and knowledge clusters,
Provide inter-modal freight facilities and terminals to encourage sustainable freight distribution and
Support economic growth and economic restructuring across the region

During the consultation undertaken when drafting the list, the agency received 59 separate responses from a wide variety of organisations, the majority of which related directly to the case for retention of sites.