Lancashire leaders help shape Northern Growth Strategy

Lancashire's Growth Plan is helping shape the government's emerging Northern Growth Strategy following talks between political leaders, businesses and ministers.

The first formal engagement between the Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) and Northern Growth Envoy Tom Riordan formed part of a wider programme of discussions between Lancashire and government.

Earlier in the week, the LCCA also held its first annual strategic conversation with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Lancashire has set out a long-term vision for growth built on nationally significant strengths in defence, advanced manufacturing, nuclear, energy, food production and tourism.

The visit included a roundtable with LCCA members to discuss the county's strategic priorities and the opportunities and challenges facing Lancashire.

A second roundtable, convened by the Lancashire Business Board, brought together senior business leaders and representatives from the Department for Business and Trade to discuss investment, business growth and improving productivity across the county.

Stephen Atkinson, chair of the Lancashire Combined County Authority, said: "You can't build a strategy for the North by looking at one type of place.

"Lancashire has a different economy, different strengths and different challenges, and that's exactly why it was important that our voice was part of this conversation.

"We've already done a huge amount of work with businesses and partners to develop a Growth Plan for Lancashire.

"Sitting down with government while the Northern Growth Strategy is still being developed meant we could test our thinking, hear theirs and make sure the conversation reflected the breadth of the North's economy."

Mo Isap, chair of the Lancashire Business Board, said: "Our Lancashire business leaders are united and spoke with one voice. Greater devolution means economic growth, leads to better jobs and creates greater prosperity for all.

"Nobody was there to make speeches. Businesses talked about what they're seeing, where they're investing and what they need to keep growing. That's the sort of conversation government needs if it's serious about building a strategy that works in the real world."