Member Article

Northern partnership folds

A partnership set up in 2004 by the three regional development agencies (RDAs) across the North, is reportedly set to close at the end of the month as its funding runs out.

The Northern Way was formed seven years ago by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, One North East and Yorkshire Forward to influence policy and delivery across the regions.

It focused on transport, new energy, business investment and innovation.

A spokesman for the Northern Way said: “As a result of the coalition government’s decision close down the RDAs, the three northern RDAs have reluctantly decided that they have no alternative but to close down the Northern Way.

“The planned closure of the Northern Way is 31 March 2011.”

The Northern Way has been instrumental in championing the £530m Northern Hub rail project.

In 2009, it published a list of ten recommendations for the scheme, designed to improve journey times and boost economic output across the North West, Yorkshire and the North East.

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