Member Article

New plans for the North's success

Economic development in the North needs to focus on transport, innovation, and private sector investment, according to the latest announcement from The Northern Way. Neville Chamberlain CBE, Chairman of the Northern Way Steering Group, has confirmed that the group will target its work around the three key areas to help close the productivity gap between the North and the South.

Mr Chamberlain said: “We have undertaken a review with stakeholders on the direction that the Northern Way needs to take if it is to successfully lead the closing of the £30bn productivity gap. “We are clear that the Northern Way needs to focus on the three areas where pan-regional activity can add most value towards closing the productivity gap, namely: transport, innovation in industry and levering in more private sector investment in regeneration.”

Steering Group partners Yorkshire Forward, One NorthEast, and Northwest Regional Development Agency agreed that the Northern Way should act as a mechanism to improve understanding of the Northern economy, how it operates, its contribution to the productivity of the UK and how this contribution can be increased.

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of One NorthEast, said: “I am delighted that our partners have recognised the continued importance of the role of the Northern Way in delivering a more prosperous North. I am keen to see the development of our work with Government and the private sector to create a more appropriate approach to economic regeneration in the North. This will include seeking to lever in greater private sector investment into regeneration activities including improving quality of place and residential offer, on which we have made good progress.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .