Strategic sites list expands to 35
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.
