NWDA/4NW submit £4bn regional funding plan

The North West Development Agency and 4NW have jointly submitted the region's Regional Funding Advice to central government for the next three years.

The report covers transport, housing, regeneration and economic development priorities and updates the last budget set in 2006.

Funding levels for the North West over the RFA period are:

• 2008/9: £1,379m (transport £330m; housing and regeneration £550m; economic development £499m)
• 2009/10: £1,385m (transport £344m; housing and regeneration £563m; economic development £478m)
• 2010/11: £1,345m (transport £361m; housing and regeneration £531m; economic development £453m)

In their list of highlights since 2006 the NWDA and 4NW said 8,092 houses had been demolished and a net additional 49,000 houses built.

The two agencies – 4NW was formerly the North West Regional Assembly before this tier of local government was abolished – are currently writing the next Regional Strategy, which sets out how a separate pot of government money will be spent.

Steven Broomhead, NWDA chief executive, said: "The region has agreed the Regional Funding Advice in the most challenging economic conditions, which is evidence of its commitment to partnership working and to its ability to prioritise in order to deliver sustained growth over the long term. We have built on the first round of Regional Funding Advice in 2006, when the region agreed a very strong set of regional priorities, put in place strong partnerships and, working with Government, made good progress on delivery.

"The agency and its partners are determined to ensure the best possible use of public expenditure in the region, ensuring that the North West focuses on using its unique assets and strengths to secure long term growth. The RFA sets out how this can be most effectively achieved."

Phil Robinson, 4NW chief executive, said: "Preparing the Regional Funding Advice required us to make some tough choices, but crucially important ones to ensure the successful development of our region. That regional leaders in 4NW and the NWDA board were able to agree this strong set of priorities demonstrates the maturity of regional decision making in the Northwest. These decisions have been made by local authority leaders from each part of the region together with senior figures from business and the third sector and truly reflect the needs and aspirations of the North West."

The region has also agreed with Government that supplementary advice on transport priorities will be submitted following Greater Manchester's review of its sub-regional priorities. This will be concluded by the end of April 2009, with the review only affecting schemes in Greater Manchester. A bypass in the High Peak was delayed until after the next RFA period to meet spending budgets.