One of the "most important ever" strategies for the Liverpool City Region has been unveiled today - setting out proposals to inject £10bn into the regional economy and generate tens of thousands of jobs.
The Liverpool City Growth Plan - launched by Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram this lunchtime - is characterised as a "bold and ambitious" blueprint for enhancing wages, attracting investment, improving living standards and delivering superior services for the 1.6 million people in the region.
Central to the strategy is an objective to lift the city region's productivity levels. The Mayor indicates that simply bringing these rates in line with the national average would contribute £6bn to the region's £43.3bn annual economy.
The mayor says the economic growth will be realised by capitalising on the city region's 'world leading' innovation, whilst fast-tracking expansion of its most productive industries including advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, digital and technology and the creative sectors - underpinned by maritime, professional and business services and the visitor economy.
The strategy highlights the city region's £11bn investment pipeline and the Life Sciences Innovation Zone and LCR Freeport, operating under a shared Industrial Strategy Zone designation, as crucial catalysts for expansion. Mayor Rotheram has highlighted the potential in clean energy and emerging green technologies, including his ongoing vision for a new Mersey tidal power scheme, reports .
Another key project is the £550m Health Innovation Liverpool (HIL) initiative, which would be situated on the former Royal Liverpool Hospital site. The ambitious scheme aims to unite healthcare and private sector partners to revolutionise life sciences research and health innovation.
The HIL project could potentially generate over 2,000 jobs and deliver more than £1bn in economic benefits. The growth plan also mentions the tenfold expansion of Daresbury's cryo-plant, which will establish a new National Cryogenics Facility to serve a global quantum computing cluster.
Cammell Laird, with its advanced manufacturing and digital capabilities at the Birkenhead shipyard, is seen as vital for meeting the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's defence needs.
Mayor Rotheram unveiled the new growth plan today at the Materials Innovation Factory, a joint venture between the University of Liverpool and Unilever aimed at advancing computer and robotics-aided discovery of design and materials.
Ahead of today's growth plan launch, Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said: "Nobody on the doorstep has ever asked me to explain my growth plan for the city region – but this document is possibly the most important strategic document we will ever produce.
"Our Growth Plan is a blueprint for a fairer, greener, more prosperous future - one where ambition, partnership and determination come together to create jobs, power homes with clean energy, and give every child the chance to reach their full potential here.
"I know the word 'growth' can often feel a bit abstract – it doesn't mean much to ordinary people in their daily lives. What really matters is what growth means in practice. It's about jobs you can build a life on, opportunities for your kids and grandkids, new homes you can afford to live in, investments in public transport and investment that brings prosperity back to our communities.
"This is our moment to show the country what we can achieve when we back ourselves, invest in our own future, and build the infrastructure for the next generation."
Supporting the Local Growth Plan launch, University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones said: "As a global university rooted in our city and region, we are committed to driving the future prosperity of the Liverpool City Region. Through our research, education and innovation activities, we support innovation-led growth and create opportunities for people, businesses and communities.
"Our world-leading Materials Innovation Factory is a powerful example of how university–industry collaboration fuels innovation, delivers impact and drives economic growth. We look forward to working with our partners on this Growth Plan to make Liverpool City Region a powerhouse of research, innovation and enterprise."
Minister for Devolution, Faith and Communities, Miatta Fahnbulleh, added: "This bold Growth Plan shows exactly what devolution can achieve when local leaders are empowered to unlock their region's potential. Liverpool City Region's ambition to add £10 billion to their economy whilst creating tens of thousands of jobs shows how communities can drive national growth from the ground up – helping us move forward with our Plan for Change."
