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Economic Development

'Gamechangers' for Northern economy set out at Convention event

The annual Convention of the North is being held in Preston this year

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner takes part in a question and answer conversation with host Ranvir Singh(Image: Getty Images)

Business and political leaders from around the North have been told of five “gamechanger” projects that aim to boost the region’s economy.

The projects were made public at the annual Convention of the North, which is being held this year in Preston, Lancashire. The schemes - which cover health, technology, energy, transport and culture - aim to boost growth across the North.

The event also heard from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Conservative Shadow Levelling Up Secretary Kevin Hollinrake.

Ms Rayner told the event that Northern mayors would act as an “army to take on blockers” to the Government’s plans to boost building. She said the Government’s Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which aims to cut red tape and get more building plans approved, would come to Parliament in the coming weeks and would allow councils without mayors to set strategies together for spatial development.

She said: “Mayors are at the centre of our plans to build 1.5 million homes, by giving them the powers they need. Mayors are an army to take on the blockers.”

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, and other Northern mayors take part in a panel discussion during the Convention of the North (Image: Getty Images)

The gamechangers include: connecting the North through a transformed rail system; making the North a global leader in clean energy investment; creating a Northern cluster of AI excellence; combining cutting-edge research and prevention of ill-health to drive growth; and investing in the North’s place, cultural, and natural assets.

Lancashire County Council leader Phillippa Williamson, co-chair of Convention of the North, said: “The North is absolutely bursting with potential. We’ve got strengths in key sectors right across the North that we can build on to address the issues the country is facing, which we know we’ve got the answer to.

“We know that we have challenges to address as well, which is the northern growth model we’re discussing at this year’s Convention of the North in Lancashire is about building on the opportunities where our region can deliver on the 海角视频’s growth mission, while also tackling the long-term issues that have held us back historically through investment in skills, connectivity and prevention.”