Plans for a new economic partnership between the West of England and South Wales have moved a step forward with the launch of a new website and prospectus explaining the cross-border initiative.
The Western Gateway, which was launched by ministers in November 2019, is a plan to boost local economies by encouraging collaboration between authorities on either side of the channel - stretching from Swansea, Cardiff and Newport to Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Gloucester and Cheltenham - and create a powerhouse to rival the North and Midlands.
The new prospectus has been developed through discussions between councils, businesses, local enterprise partnerships and city regions, and outlines the vision and the ambitions for the economic partnership.
It also sets out the scale of the Western Gateway’s plans and identifies strategic priorities including improved transport connectivity between cities and to london; a focus on innovation; and a co-ordinated international approach to trade and investment.
Delivering the vision could add more than £56billion to the º£½ÇÊÓƵ economy by 2030 and help the region achieve a net-zero future, according to the organisations behind the initiative.
The partners say the idea is to focus on "inclusive and clean" economic growth, suggesting the scale and collaboration will achieve more for the people and the wider economies of the countries involved than the constituent parts could achieve alone.
Katherine Bennett CBE, chair of the Western Gateway, said: “The proposal we’ve put on the table is one that will deliver the economic boost the region requires to maximise its potential.
"Our prospectus provides an insight into the journey we are undertaking together as a partnership of businesses and authorities, determined to deliver growth from Swansea to Swindon and Cheltenham to Weston.â€
'We hope to achieve better outcomes for people'
South Gloucestershire Council Cllr Toby Savage said: “The Western Gateway is a strong partnership of urban and rural communities across a wide area that will help deliver economic growth for South Wales and Western England.
"We have an excellent combined track-record of economic success, innovation and creativity in our region, and by working together we hope to achieve better outcomes for the people and the economies of our areas than we would be able to achieve alone.â€
The Western Gateway prospectus comes ahead of a full vision document for the partnership, following the completion of an Independent Economic Review later in 2020 that will provide an evidence base across the countries, area and regions of the partnership.
Former Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said at the launch of the initiative in November: "The Western Gateway will provide an arena for the joint strengths of two neighbouring areas with distinct identities and traditions to be harnessed.
â€South Wales and the West of England already form a natural economic region with excellent transport networks in road and rail and well-established links in business, industry and education.
“The region can be a true powerhouse of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ economy if we take this opportunity to galvanise its many strengths to generate ideas, innovation and entrepreneurship in order to stimulate jobs and growth."
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, added: “Our goal is to deliver inclusive and sustainable growth across the region.
"This partnership is ground-breaking for the region and is well placed to be the vehicle that strengthens the economy to benefit over 4.4 million people.â€
To read the prospectus about the Western Gateway initiative, visit
