4
Ms Rayner, who describes herself as Deputy Prime Minister for the North, has already spoken of her desire to have an elected mayor in place in Lancashire in 2026. Given the prize that is on offer – it appears it is in all our interests for Lancashire’s politicians to get on and deliver.
In the meantime, our non-mayoral Combined County Authority is up and running and used the convention as a platform to launch a growth plan that is now being presented for consultation.
Created with input from Lancashire’s new Business Board, it is very much a statement of intent, and a strong one at that.
The pipeline of major development and infrastructure projects contained within the plan sets out a 10-year investment package valued at more than £20bn.
It looks at targeted investment in key technology sectors including clean energy, AI, UK security and advanced engineering and manufacturing as well as a “re-imagined coast”.
The great and the good from the worlds of business, politics, academia and the community came together in Preston in late February with one thing on the agenda – delivering a more prosperous future for the North of England.
Delegates to the annual Convention of the North, being hosted by Lancashire, certainly had lots to discuss.
Where to start? The desperate need for better transport, funding inequalities between North and South, the housing crisis, raising skills. The topics and discussions were not new, these are issues we return to regularly in Lancashire Business View.
Neither was the sense of frustration around the past pace of change and the false starts witnessed across the region.
That was all summed up by Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham who declared: “We have had the false promises of Northern Powerhouse and Levelling Up, the North can’t repeatedly be
Richard Slater chairman
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senior administrator
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given false promises.” Devolution dominated for much of the gathering, with Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, in her keynote speech, putting elected mayors front and centre of the political and economic revolution she is aiming to spark.
She pledged to give those mayors the power to
Its authors say: “If supported, both locally and nationally, this investment will transform Lancashire’s economic prospects and contribute to the government’s mission to supercharge the nation’s growth performance.”
Better connectivity, including between our towns and cities, will be vital in turning the plan into reality. Andy Burnham has called for a ‘new deal’ for the North. Such a deal has to include major investment in transport infrastructure,
Better connectivity, including between
our towns and cities, will be vital in turning the plan into reality
drive growth, “to use new levers over planning, housing and regeneration to Get Britain Building”.
Handing mayors, “the sledgehammer” to break a system that holds back housing and infrastructure development, she told delegates “mayors aren’t just a helpful tool to unlock housing, transport and infrastructure, they are critical levers in our mission of growth.”
Joanne Hindley sales director
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which holds the key to unlocking opportunities not just in Lancashire but across the whole of the North of England.
Angela Rayner says: “This government is only giving the North what it’s owed, and what it deserves.”
When it comes to connectivity we all deserve so much better.
Lancashire Business View is written, designed and produced in Lancashire by Northpoint Publishing.
Lancashire Business View and LBV are registered trademarks.
The views expressed by our columnists are not necessarily shared by Lancashire Business View.
Photography: Clive Lawrence, Liz Henson Photography.
Printers: Peter Scott Printers, Burnley
Northpoint Publishing East Park Lodge, East Park Road, Blackburn BB1 8DW
t: 01254 297870 ISSN: 1757-479X
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