The Lancashire Business View: July/August

By Editorial Staff

31 Jul 2025

Lancashire County Council County Hall

Ask any business leader in Lancashire to name major obstacles to economic growth in the county and you can be sure that the transport
network will feature highly on the list.

In June the government announced a £15bn package of investment in transport infrastructure. Greater Manchester received £2.5bn. Part
of that funding will expand its tram network.

The Liverpool city region’s slice of the pie was £1.6bn. The cash will allow it to take forward plans for a new rapid transit network.

West Yorkshire was handed £2.1bn which will enable it to start work on a tram system. Other transport improvements will aim to unlock regeneration across six key neighbourhoods bordering Leeds city centre.

And what did Lancashire receive from the pot?

Absolutely nothing.

The money was shared out amongst areas that have an elected mayor in place, parts of the country that have grasped the opportunities
devolution can deliver.

Sadly, it has become an all too familiar story with Lancashire, like parts of its transport network, crawling towards that destination.

Now it looks like the brakes may once again be applied, with the new county council ruling party Reform UK calling for a binding referendum on an elected mayor.

In an interview with Lancashire Business View featured in this issue, new County Hall leader Stephen Atkinson sets out his personal
opposition to an elected mayor.

He shares his concerns that a mayoralty “could become very politicised” in terms of investment decisions and questions whether the model is
suitable for the rural nature of Lancashire.

He also believes that the people of Lancashire should make the decision saying: “It needs to be their choice”.

There is no doubt the Labour government’s preferred model is for elected mayors along with the streamlining of local government that would see many of our district councils disappear.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner spelled out the position in her speech to the Convention of the North in Preston in February.

She has also urged Lancashire to move forward at pace.

Other parts of the North West have responded quickly. Cumbria is set to elect its mayor in 2026, as is Cheshire and Warrington. That will leave Lancashire out on its own.

The debate in the county has gone on for years, much to the frustration of the business community.

For those who worry about the politics, we’d point out the relationship between Greater Manchester’s elected Labour mayor Andy Burnham and the Conservative government as an example of an approach that has put the needs of an area first.

And while the talk in Lancashire is of a referendum, in Greater Manchester it is about an ambitious ten-year plan to turbocharge growth and deliver tens of thousands of new jobs and homes for its residents.

A plan to deliver £1bn of investment every year for the next decade and build homes on a scale and at a pace not seen in the past 20 years.

How absolutely game-changing would it be for Lancashire to be in that position?

Enjoyed this? Read more from Editorial Staff

Latest news

1

Lancaster Accountants recognised in Financial Times’ Top 25 UK employers ICS office

Lancaster Accountants recognised in Financial Times’ Top 25 UK employers

21 Aug 2025

2

Leonard Curtis sells a majority stake to new investors Senior Leadership Team Leonard Curtis CEO Dan Booth COO David Brown And CFO Paul Birks

Leonard Curtis sells a majority stake to new investors

21 Aug 2025

3

Hundreds of jobs created in landmark £3bn deal to overhaul 70-year-old aqueduct The tunnel construction

Hundreds of jobs created in landmark £3bn deal to overhaul 70-year-old aqueduct

21 Aug 2025

4

Eden Project Morecambe goes live with new job vacancies Eden Project Morecambe External CGI Dusk Grimshaw

Eden Project Morecambe goes live with new job vacancies

20 Aug 2025

5

Specialist manufacturer powers international growth with HSBC UK support Ross Pneumatrol

Specialist manufacturer powers international growth with HSBC UK support

20 Aug 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
Linkedin Cover.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
03 Sep 2025 - 03 Sep 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Harewood House , Leeds, LS17 9LG

09:30 - 16:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin