Member Article

Warrington & Co welcomes Centre for Cities report

Published today, the influential report on towns and cities in the UK, The Centre for Cities – Cities Outlook Report 2013, shows Warrington is again the best performing “city” in the Northwest leading the economic recovery in the region.

The report, which looks at and compares 64 UK cities and towns, highlights Warrington as just one of a few cities that has improved during the second half of the recession (2009-2012). It has jumped from 54th place (2008-09) to 25th (2009-2012). This ranking is based on how Warrington has performed against the number of claimants to estimated changes in jobs; work-place weekly wages; the size of the business base and house values.

Warrington is ranked 7th highest in terms of both employment rates and private sector jobs growth. Warrington is placed even higher,4th, in terms of the ratio of private sector to public sector employment.

Peter Crompton, Chair, Warrington & Co said: “Today’s report is very good news, as it shows that despite the still challenging economic climate, Warrington is again leading the way for the North West, and demonstrating the robustness of its economy. There is much more for us to do, as despite the very positive results Warrington did record a fall in wage levels and CO2 emissions unfortunately remain among the highest in the country.”

“The Centre for Cities Report provides Warrington & Co with a good benchmark on which to measure the effect of the Warrington Means Business strategy for our future. 2013 is a big year for Warrington as we will see more developments, including new housing, start to be delivered and significant progress being made on our key projects including Muse Developments’ Bridge Street Quarter in the town centre; the Southern Gateway which involves landholdings of the Council and Langtree and the Northwest’s largest strategic employment site at Omega where Miller are commencing the first bespoke developments. Later in the year Warrington will be a host town for the Rugby League World Cup with both the Samoan and USA teams based in the town..”

“The Centre for Cities report confirms what Warrington already knows – we are a world class business location, and this report confirms it to all potential investors looking for a new location to relocate or startup in the North of England.”

Christine Gaskell, Chair of the Cheshire & Warrington LEP concluded;

“It’s great news that Warrington is performing so well in the Northwest and nationally, as it is the sub-regions biggest urban centre.”

“With the continued delivery of our major projects, place marketing activity and enabling the development of key employment sites, we will continue to support the economic growth of Warrington.”

“Our ambition is for Cheshire and Warrington to be the best performing economy outside the Greater South East and the preferred location for business.”

Warrington & Co is Warrington’s urban regeneration partnership. It brings together the private and public sector to promote economic development and physical regeneration in Warrington, under the guidance of a private sector-led board.

Warrington & Co’s main function is to steer and monitor the implementation of the regeneration framework, as well as providing a forum for all the key agencies involved in regeneration in the town, both public and private sector, to co-ordinate their activities.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Louise Garforth .