Major economic boost for town

A NEW body is to replace the Warrington-based North West Development Agency.
The Cheshire and Warrington sub-region’s bid for a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has been given the green light by the Government’s Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.
This is seen by Warrington, and the neighbouring Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East unitary councils, as a major economic boost for the area.
Altogether, Government backing has been given for 24 LEPs across the country.
An LEP will bring public, private and voluntary sectors together to create sustainable economic growth.
Council and business leaders across Warrington and Cheshire welcomed the announcement and pointed out that the area already boasts an economic performance that outstrips every other North West sub-region by a significant margin.
Coun Ian Marks, leader of Warrington Borough Council and chairman of the Cheshire and Warrington Leaders’ Board said: “We are over the moon that our bid has been accepted and endorsed by the government.
“We believed from the outset that our case was very strong as Cheshire and Warrington boasts a first class strategic location and an established track record of partnership working.”
Robert Davis, chairman of the Cheshire and Warrington Enterprise Commission delivered the sub-region’s prospectus – “Cheshire means business” – to Whitehall last month.
Mr Davis, group chief executive of EA Technology said: “As a businessman, I believe that it’s a real opportunity for businesses to help shape the development of the LEP and ensure that it meets our needs.
“We are currently in the process of recruiting for the interim LEP board and look forward to discussions with Government with regard to new responsibilities.”
LEPs – strategic economic partnerships between private, public and voluntary sectors – are the Government’s suggested replacement for Regional Development Agencies.
They are seen as an integral part of a new plan for locally-driven economic growth which will be funded by a £1.4b regional growth fund.
Growth targets envisaged in the Cheshire and Warrington LEP submission included:
•More than 20,000 new jobs created with a key focus on manufacturing and exports.
•An increase in population of around 100,000 involving the need for 70,000 new homes.
•A £10b-plus increase in GVA (a measure of economic output) to around £30b
through accelerated growth of new businesses and start-ups.
Pictured: Warrington Borough Council leader Ian Marks (top) and Robert Davis, chairman of Cheshire and Warrington Enterprise Commission.