Northern business leaders call on Government for commitment to key investments to 'level up' UK economy

THE Chairs for the 11 Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in the North of England, known collectively as the Northern Powerhouse 11 (the NP11), met with Government Ministers and Northern MPs in Parliament to outline proposals for levelling up the UK's economy ahead of next month's Budget. They presented their priorities for investment opportunities and projects that will allow the North to boost UK Plc and take a leading role as the country's clean growth powerhouse. This included proposals to help boost innovation across flagship northern industries and to significantly enhance trade, investment, and connectivity across the North's Towns, Cities, Ports and Airports.

At the core of the NP11 Budget proposal to the Government is a ₤40 million investment to help develop a 'Net Zero North' clean energy programme over 3 years. This is intended to build on the region's internationally recognised energy expertise and to deliver transformational pan-northern projects, huge export opportunities and collaborative growth technologies. It is estimated that Net Zero North could add more than ₤2bn a year to the energy economy and create more than 100,000 new green jobs, as part of a Northern-led green energy revolution to reduce UK carbon emissions.

The NP11 has also called for a ₤67 million investment over 3 years to unlock new trade and investment opportunities. The proposal aims to close longstanding productivity and growth gaps between the North and the rest of the UK by raising exports to 30% of the Northern Powerhouse's GDP by 2030. It also aims to reduce the North's dependence on domestic markets by seeking to match the UK average of 9.6% of firms exporting, through internationalisation of the North's economy.

Further to these proposals, the NP11 has recommended today that the Government's new Northern Growth Body; that was 1st announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the 2019 Autumn Landmark NP11 and Convention of the North Event, that was held in Rotherham, should focus on the following in order to deliver the transformational change that is needed:-

►  Maximum benefit, organised to support Policy areas with the most opportunity.

►  Delivery, with real pounds and powers.

►  Northern leadership, collaborating, consolidating, and building outwards from partnerships and structures that are already established.

Roger Marsh OBE DL, Chair of the NP11 Board and Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, said:- "Our Government has rightly recognised the North's central role in levelling up the national economy following the UK's departure from the EU. We're now calling on the Government to show the extent of this commitment by ensuring that its Budget on 11 March 2020, is a Budget for the North.  In particular we need further investment into some of the North's most promising developments and sectors, which include clean energy, transport infrastructure, and trade and investment opportunities. The evidence based proposals we've put forward today have potential to bring huge benefits to the 16 million people who live in our region and can help to turbo charge Britain's post Brexit economy."

Vision for Upper Central at heart of Liverpool's future

LIVERPOOL City Council's Cabinet are to receive a report, due out on Friday, 6 March 2020, recommending that a draft Spatial Regeneration Frame Work (SRF) be endorsed for the Upper Central area. Running from Central Station to Liverpool Science Park and Lime Street to Bold Street, Upper Central will be a destination in its own right and a key part of the the Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) Mayoral Development Zone, which currently employs 7% of the City's workforce. The vision for Upper Central is for the area to be an international gateway site to KQ Liverpool, the City's thriving, ₤2bn Innovation District. Last summer the Council staged an 8 week long public consultation on the draft SRF, the results of which will help shape the future direction of this 56 acre site, which is a fulcrum point linking a number of composite parts of the City Centre. Upper Central will attract investment and become a magnet for the digital, tech and creative sectors with the aim of achieving 3 key goals:-

1. A vibrant new City Centre district that can accommodate a mix of uses that blurs the boundaries between surrounding districts, with 2.5m sq.ft of new development opportunities and up to 7,000 new jobs.

2. A new sustainable, walkable and recognisable gateway location within the City, promoting pedestrian movement, permeability, increased dwell time and a positive 1st impression to millions of residents and visitors arriving into the City Centre at Lime Street or Central Stations.

3. An exemplary mix of modern design and iconic historic buildings set within high quality public realm that creates a sense of place, distinctly Liverpudlian and attractive to residents, visitors occupiers and investors.

Led by a team of independent experts, the draft SRF has looked at how best to redevelop the Lime Street area around the Adelphi Hotel, Central Station and Mount Pleasant whilst dovetailing Liverpool John Moores University's Copperas Hill site, plans for the Fabric District and various private sector schemes such as Circus Liverpool in the Lewis's building. To achieve this future development and investment, the draft Upper Central SRF focuses on 8 key themes:-

► Creation of a true gateway to KQ Liverpool and a new destination within the City.

► Improving pedestrian experience and links to the rest of the City Centre.

► Blending a mix of uses to create a quality of place and identity.

► High quality design, appropriate height, scale and massing and landmark buildings.

► Provision of high quality infrastructure.

► Holistic view of development context, creating a new City district.

► Preserving and enhancing heritage assets.

► Collaboration and delivery with pace

The draft SRF presents a vision, key themes and development principles for 6 character areas within the SRF boundary as well as a design code and illustrative spatial masterplan to guide the future development of the Upper Central Frame Work area. A major aspiration identified in the draft SRF is how to create a super crossing at Ranelagh Place, a new pedestrian experience along Renshaw Street and to promote a new pedestrian route to Lime Street Station from Copperas Hill. This will allow for improved access to the Fabric District and Paddington Village, the Councils ₤1bn health, life sciences, education and technology flagship development and ensure a connection from the heart of the City Centre, Liverpool 1 and the main retail area. Liverpool City Council also acquired Central Station Shopping Centre in 2018 and working with Merseytravel and Network Rail on proposals to expand and upgrade the Station. It is also overseeing public realm improvements for nearby St George's Plateau, as part of the ₤47m City Centre connectivity scheme, and has also set out an ambition to redevelop the Mount Pleasant Car Park area. Once approved by the Council's Cabinet, it is intended the SRF will be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document once Liverpool's Local Plan is endorsed in early 2021. It will then be used to guide all future planning applications in the area and provide developers with detailed information of desired design and build issues including height, scale and massing of buildings. Liverpool City Council, which is overseeing an unprecedented ₤14bn of development activity, has already adopted an SRF for Paddington Village, 10 Streets Creativity District and Commercial Business District and is looking to adopt further SRFs for the Baltic Triangle, Williamson Square and Mathew Street, as well as the Waterfront.

The Upper Central SRF team consists of:-.

► Avison Young – Property Advisors, Strategic Planning and Consultation lead.

► K2 Architects – Masterplanning and Architecture lead.

► Planit-IE – Place-making and Landscape lead.

► Mott McDonald - Highways and Transport.

► AGENT - Brand and Marketing

Colin Sinclair, Chief Executive of KQ Liverpool, commented:- "The exponential growth of KQ Liverpool, along with the ongoing regeneration of Lime Street, has shone the spotlight on Upper Central. It represents 1 of the greatest development opportunities in the UK and, alongside Paddington Village, will have a major impact on the City's economy, creating thousands of jobs in:- science, tech, health, education, retail and leisure. The SRF will truly allow us to plan a world class development, enabling Liverpool to continue to compete with any City in Europe."

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson, said:- "Upper Central is vital to this City's economic future and such is the scale of its potential it will be a huge employer for generations to come. This plan will help set the template to transform this area into a vibrant, innovative and creative district, which will be home to a large cluster of digital, tech, education and cultural assets, alongside exceptional transport infrastructure, areas of public realm and supporting use classes. These changes will radiate far beyond the Upper Central location and will enhance the entire City's status as a pioneering destination with an exclusive offer, character and world class facilities that will ultimately drive future prosperity for the City and its people."