2021 Investment Guide

Lancashire 2021 INVESTMENT GUIDE

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p45 Lancashire Cover.indd 45 03/02/2021 12:28 SPONSOR FOREWORD

READY TO CREATE, BUILD AND REGENERATE Sir Howard Bernstein outlines how Lancashire, with a £6-8bn development pipeline in place, is set to grasp every opportunity in 2021 and beyond

Lancashire is a brilliant collective of investment, under-pinned by £29m brands, brains, products, people and in public sector funded infrastructure places. Pre-Covid, the county was investment. already developing ambitious plans for Development across LAMEC growth, bringing stakeholders together continues apace, with the £25m behind a new vision set to transform Advanced Manufacturing and Research the economy. That groundwork is Centre for the North West under going to stand them in good stead construction at Samlesbury EZ, and a as the county looks to reactivate that new cable landing station connecting momentum, and begin to build forward Blackpool Airport EZ to the US via next again at pace. generation undersea fibre optic cable. Lancashire is a place that makes Maximising LAMEC’s potential is a things, with innovation in its DNA. It key part of Lancashire’s economic embraces its manufacturing heritage development strategy. and has been on the front foot in On the very near horizon, there is developing plans to help the sector industrial excellence; connectivity; hard also the £220m Lancashire Central recover and redefine. Plans led by work and tenacity. development, which is the most exciting the public and private sector working With a population of 1.5m people, mixed-use employment and housing hand in hand and focused on retaining over 60% of whom are working age, development in the North West, and and redeploying talent, accelerating Lancashire has a significant talent pool. a raft of transformational town centre innovation, diversifying capabilities and And with a student population of development projects. Plans are developing investable propositions. over 55,000 across four universities, progressing for the Eden Project This grit and determination is, I that skilled workforce grows every North at Morecambe and at Blackpool believe, why Lancashire is one of the year, serving 52,000 businesses and Central, bringing £425m investment primary investment opportunities in generating £34bn per year. between them to the Lancashire coast the Northern Powerhouse. They have Perhaps most significantly, Lancashire that will create thousands of jobs and an ability to see the bigger picture is home to four key enterprise attract millions more visitors. Plus, whilst focusing in on the things that zones which have combined into one Lancashire is pressing ahead with its will really make a difference. It is a overarching investment destination – the bid for UK City of Culture 2025 at an perspective and an approach that Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing unprecedented, county-wide scale. means they are well placed to tackle and Energy Cluster. Together, the There is no lack of ambition in the challenges that lie ahead, utilising cluster provides over 370 hectares Lancashire. There is also no better time all the inherent qualities that make of development opportunity, and has to become part of a success story set Lancashire the place it is: innovation; already attracted £100m in private to rival any other in the North.

Sir Howard Bernstein Lancashire Independent Advisory Panel

p46-47Marketing Lancashire Lancs fwd stats.indd 15449.indd 46 46 03/02/202129/01/2021 12:3316:26 SPONSOR FOREWORD

LANCASTER

READY TO CREATE, BUILD AND REGENERATE Sir Howard Bernstein outlines how Lancashire, with a £6-8bn development BLACKPOOL pipeline in place, is set to grasp every opportunity in 2021 and beyond LANCASHIRE BURNLEY POPULATION (2019) PRESTON 1,508,900 BLACKBURN Lancashire is a brilliant collective of investment, under-pinned by £29m brands, brains, products, people and in public sector funded infrastructure AGED 16 TO 64 places. Pre-Covid, the county was investment. LANCASHIRE...... 919,500 already developing ambitious plans for Development across LAMEC UK...... 41,724,000 growth, bringing stakeholders together continues apace, with the £25m behind a new vision set to transform Advanced Manufacturing and Research the economy. That groundwork is Centre for the North West under AGED 16-64 (JUN 2020) going to stand them in good stead construction at Samlesbury EZ, and a ECONOMIC ACTIVITY RATE as the county looks to reactivate that new cable landing station connecting LANCASHIRE...... 78.4 momentum, and begin to build forward Blackpool Airport EZ to the US via next UK...... 79.0 again at pace. generation undersea fibre optic cable. EDUCATION (NVQ4 AND ABOVE, 16-64 YO, 2019) Lancashire is a place that makes Maximising LAMEC’s potential is a BUSINESSES BY STAFF LANCASHIRE...... 33.8 things, with innovation in its DNA. It key part of Lancashire’s economic MICRO (0 TO 9 STAFF)...... 51,195 UK...... 40.2 embraces its manufacturing heritage development strategy. SMALL (10 TO 49 STAFF)...... 8,565 and has been on the front foot in On the very near horizon, there is MEDIAN WEEKLY EARNINGS (FULL TIME, 2020) MEDIUM-SIZED (50 TO 249 STAFF)...... 1,755 developing plans to help the sector industrial excellence; connectivity; hard also the £220m Lancashire Central LANCASHIRE...... 528.1 LARGE (250+ STAFF)...... 235 recover and redefine. Plans led by work and tenacity. development, which is the most exciting UK...... 585.5 TOTAL...... 61,750 the public and private sector working With a population of 1.5m people, mixed-use employment and housing SOURCE ONS SOURCE ONS hand in hand and focused on retaining over 60% of whom are working age, development in the North West, and and redeploying talent, accelerating Lancashire has a significant talent pool. a raft of transformational town centre innovation, diversifying capabilities and And with a student population of development projects. Plans are developing investable propositions. over 55,000 across four universities, progressing for the Eden Project GVA GROWTH BY INDUSTRY (2008-2018) This grit and determination is, I that skilled workforce grows every North at Morecambe and at Blackpool SOURCE ONS 8,000 believe, why Lancashire is one of the year, serving 52,000 businesses and Central, bringing £425m investment primary investment opportunities in generating £34bn per year. between them to the Lancashire coast 7,000 the Northern Powerhouse. They have Perhaps most significantly, Lancashire that will create thousands of jobs and 25.2% Manufacturing an ability to see the bigger picture is home to four key enterprise attract millions more visitors. Plus, 6,000 whilst focusing in on the things that zones which have combined into one Lancashire is pressing ahead with its 5,000 will really make a difference. It is a overarching investment destination – the bid for UK City of Culture 2025 at an perspective and an approach that Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing unprecedented, county-wide scale. 4,000 8.2% Real Estate Activities £m means they are well placed to tackle and Energy Cluster. Together, the There is no lack of ambition in 3,000 the challenges that lie ahead, utilising cluster provides over 370 hectares Lancashire. There is also no better time 32.0% Construction all the inherent qualities that make 5000of development opportunity, and has to become part of a success story set 2,000 35.8% Education Lancashire the place it is: innovation; already attracted £100m in private to rival any other in the North. 38.6% Professional , scientiﬁc and technical activities 1,000 4000 Sir Howard Bernstein 0 Lancashire Independent Advisory Panel 2008 200920102011201220132014201520162017 2018

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1000 MAGNETS LANCASHIRE

Big wins Lancashire has its sights set on bringing Eden to the North and becoming UK City of Culture in 2025

n Created following the success of Glasgow and Liverpool as European Capitals of Culture in 1990 and 2008 respectively, the UK City of Culture title is designed to make places think more strategically about their cultural offer, identity and heritage within a national context. Previous holders of the UK City of Culture have all benefited from increased investment, enhanced infrastructure, job creation and more visitors compared with previous years. Lancashire is bidding to hold the The proposed Eden Project North Image: Grimshaw Architects title in 2025, submitting a county-wide offer. It is a bold new vision to deliver We feel that it should be spread out its application later this year, with the an ambitious and inclusive campaign more so that more people can be part project set to open in 2024. that brings together all 15 of Lancashire’s of a really special event.” The LEP is one of four regional local authorities. Lancashire 2025 Lancashire’s bid, he says, has the partners on Eden Project North, expects to present the initial application edge because it shows “you don’t the others being Lancashire County to the Department of Digital, Culture, have to work in an urban environment Council, Lancaster City Council and Media and Sport in April. in order to participate in businesses Lancaster University. The funding is Tony Attard, a board member of the that are based around cities. This is part of the Lancashire Growth Deal. Lancashire Enterprise Partnership the great thing about our bid, it really A business case submitted to (LEP) and chair of Marketing Lancashire, looks at a different way of working and the government presented Eden says the big ambition is unification. a different way of living.” Project North as a key driver of the “The unity of Lancashire is its strength Coventry is the UK’s City of Culture UK’s post-Covid green recovery. It is and this is one of the great this year. Attard says: “They are projected to attract around a million opportunities for us to bring the whole expecting 1.5 million visitors and they visitors a year and directly employ of Lancashire together for a very expect that to equate to £200m in more than 400 people. strong, cohesive bid.” funds coming in.” There is an estimated visitor spend Lancashire’s cultural assets are Another game-changing development of more than £200m a year in the spread around the county, says Attard: under way in Lancashire is Eden region – not including money spent “Most City of Culture bids obviously Project North. It received £1.2m from at Eden Project North – which would evolve around an urban environment. the LEP in December 2020 to fund support an additional 1,500 jobs. With And as a consequence, most rural the development work needed to an expected cost of £125m, Eden is and coastal areas miss out on that prepare a planning application for the seeking a mix of private, public and opportunity. We feel that’s wrong. Morecambe site. Eden aims to submit central government funding.

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University town UCLan’s development in Burnley is acting as a catalyst for regeneration and development in East Lancashire

n Last year marked a milestone in A £100m investment, it is expected UCLan’s masterplan for the campus Burnley as the 136-bed student accom- to attract 4,000 students by 2025, is expected soon, signalling more modation scheme for occupation by create 300 direct jobs and generate development is on the way. the University of Central Lancashire £36m GVA per annum. Moving from Neil Hart is chief executive of (UCLan) was handed over in September. 200 to 4,000 students is a “game- Premier League club Burnley FC and Delivered by Burnley Barnfield Ltd, a changer for the town”, says Burnley new chair of the Burnley Bondholders. joint venture between Burnley Council Council’s chief executive Mick Cartledge. Hart says: “We’ve got an anchor in the and Barnfield Investment Properties, Having new medical teaching town centre, we’ve got an anchor in the development is part of the facilities and growing the student Turf Moor and we’ve got UCLan and wider transformation of the historic population are key to Burnley’s skills the education facilities. Trying to find a canal-side On the Banks project. agenda. Being a university town brings way to link all that together I think will Designed by Campbell Drive other benefits, such as encouraging be really important.” Partnership, the scheme comprises 136 innovation, research and development. He is also excited about the en-suite rooms across 29 ‘cluster It also brings more people into the opportunity for Burnley to become a flats’. On the ground floor is a student town centre. And it’s this anticipated true university town. “The partnership hub, study room, cinema room and influx that has driven the council’s between the council, UCLan and the laundry. The building wraps around decision to invest in the Pioneer Place football club will be critical to moving Sandygate square and includes units town centre regeneration scheme. that forward.” for restaurants, cafés or offices. The building is located across from UCLan’s state-of-the-art medical teaching centre at Victoria Mill. UCLan will manage the facility, while the council retains ownership. The accommodation, delivered by main contractor Barnfield Construction, was developed to meet growing demand from UCLan’s Burnley campus. The university campus will see the rede- velopment of a 2 hectare brownfield canal-side site over the next five years. This area of the town, says Kate Ingram, strategic head of economy and growth at Burnley Borough Council, has been a priority “for decades”, so finally seeing its development brings an “exciting physical change and development in the town”. UCLan Burnley’s Victoria Mill site

p48-58 Lancashire.indd 49 03/02/2021 15:48 ADVERTISING PROFILE

/// FUTURE AMBITION BLACKPOOL: £1 billion+ A GLOBAL GATEWAY BLACKPOOL Growth & Prosperity programme Blackpool’s brand new connection to a subsea, fibre optic, Irish Sea cable network MAKES IT WORK will deliver some of the world’s A bold vision, multimillion-pound investment programmes and the spirit to succeed fastest and most resilient internet speeds, securing our status as a is transforming the Blackpool business environment £40.5m key international route linking the Town Deal Funding UK to the rest of the world.

In Blackpool, we know that achievement in business isn’t Sands Resort and Spa Venue development, and how the The cable that has landed in down to luck. It’s hard won. area is transforming through the Quality Corridors Fund. Blackpool is the CelticConnect-2, a next generation cable Success here comes through grit and determination, We’ll help you recruit the right talent for your business – system that is part of the North from a desire to always find a way forward. It comes perhaps from the 18 thousand professionals working in Blackpool Central Atlantic Loop on the Aqua with the imagination to innovate and a sense of science, research, engineering and technology locally. You’ll Comms network, delivering a adventure and the ability to spot a great idea or an benefit from Blackpool being connected to a new generation Masterplan up to diverse, high capacity network opportunity in the market – and to back it. And subsea fibre optic cable network, joining the UK to North connection to the US and most importantly it’s delivered by everyone in the America and Northern Europe and delivering some of £300m Northern Europe. With Blackpool community pulling together, supporting each other, the world’s fastest and most resilient Internet speeds. investment as a strategic landing point in this through working as a team. global undersea communications And our Growth and Prosperity team are ready to offer system, it not only brings In Blackpool you’ll find the perfect home for your you all the help and assistance you need as you land in the best available internet business, from our Enterprise Zones at Blackpool your new home. capabilities to the Fylde Coast, Airport and nearby Hillhouse to our multi-million pound £28m but also future proofs the North Town Development programmes – like the Talbot Here in Blackpool, we work hard for our rewards and as Conference and and the rest of mainland UK. Gateway Central Business District, Blackpool Central the world knows, we do it with a smile on our faces. Exhibition Centre leisure development, and our brand new Conference The new fibre optic cable supports and Exhibition Centre. Come and see the new 5-star Discover for yourself how Blackpool makes it work. the need of the Pan-Atlantic hyper scale providers that underpin today’s international cloud industry for global carriers, £220m cloud-based networks, internet Talbot Gateway scheme service providers, data centres, IT companies and the global media sector.

Tony Doyle Head of ICT, Blackpool Council

Contact: Nicole Billington, Growth & Prosperity Team, Blackpool Council, Tel: 07393 796951 Email: [email protected] www.businessinblackpool.com

Blackpoolp48-58 Lancashire.indd Future Ambition 50 profile.indd All Pages 03/02/2021 15:49 18/12/2020 10:54 ADVERTISING PROFILE

Tony Doyle Head of ICT, Blackpool Council

Contact: Nicole Billington, Growth & Prosperity Team, Blackpool Council, Tel: 07393 796951 Email: [email protected] www.businessinblackpool.com

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In the zone Lancashire’s four enterprise zones are playing a key role in developing the county’s Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Cluster

n Four development zones across and equip the almost 50,000 sq ft is productivity. And it’s also keeping Lancashire have secured enterprise Advanced Manufacturing and Research manufacturing jobs in Lancashire. zone (EZ) status forming an investment Centre. Robertson was awarded the “We’re de-risking the adoption of new destination concentrated around the £11m construction contract following technologies for companies within Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing a competitive tender process by the Lancashire.” and Energy Cluster (LAMEC). University of Sheffield. The facility will enable local SMEs as The four sites are at Samlesbury and According to Steve Foxley, chief well as Tier One and OEMs to come Warton, which are adjacent to BAE executive of University of Sheffield together to develop new technologies, Systems operations, and at Blackpool AMRC, the new facility will act as for example in additive manufacturing. Airport and Hillhouse in Wyre. a “catalyst for inward investment, According to Conlon, up to 30 per The Samlesbury site will be home supporting businesses in the region cent of parts on a fighter plane could to the University of Sheffield AMRC to innovate, drive up productivity, and be produced via additive manufacturing North West, which is expected to be lead manufacturing towards a smart, in future. It’s therefore important fully operational by September. sustainable, and resilient future”. that the local supply chain has that A £20m grant from Lancashire LEP Melissa Conlon, AMRC North West’s knowledge and technology “so that Growth Deal is being used to build commercial director, says the big win they can have those orders, rather

The planned AMRC North West site

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than those orders going out of county”. Enabling that transfer of knowledge to local companies will keep them competitive. She says that following Brexit, more light has been shed on complex and fragmented supply chains. There is impetus to bring supply chains closer to the source of manufacturing, which could mean more on-shoring. “We want to create more manufacturing jobs and make sure that manufacturing is sustainable. There is a move to more low-carbon manufacturing, so that’s another reason to have your supply chain closer to your point of manufacturing.” In August, the government announced that as part of its Getting Building Fund it had agreed to fund a number of projects with mayors and local enterprise partnerships. In Lancashire they included £2.5m for the Hillhouse enterprise zone development of the Low Carbon Manufacturing Building Demonstrator “We want to create more Hillhouse International Business Park. at the AMRC. Hillhouse International Enterprise This will demonstrate retrofittable manufacturing jobs Zone is a former chemical production smart building technologies and show- and make sure that facility, located on the Wyre coast at case them within the fabric of manufacturing is Thornton-Cleveleys. the building, providing access for Conlon continues: “We want to make manufacturers to evaluate and consider sustainable.” manufacturers more competitive, adoption in their own factories. Melissa Conlon more productive, be able to compete The project would work in collab- within the global supply chains. But oration with RedCAT, the Lancashire would also collaborate with the Clean also we’re there to encourage other Centre for Alternative Technologies. Energy Technology Park at the companies to come alongside us and RedCAT is an initiative developed and Springfields nuclear licensed site. take the benefit of our research.” led by East Lancashire Chamber of Another beneficiary of the Getting The aim is to create high-value Commerce, to support innovators and Building Fund is the Hillhouse manufacturing jobs on the enterprise manufacturers of low carbon International Business Park, which zone and develop a cluster of low technologies access funding, showcase secured £500,000. The project will carbon manufacturers. She says in the their ideas and execute robust assist in delivering 200 new jobs to Sheffield city region, the formation of commercialisation strategies. It also the area as part of the enterprise zone the AMRC has boosted job creation. secured funding from the Getting project through improved infrastructure “It started with one building. We’ve Building Fund of £1.5m. The Low Carbon for all existing businesses and new now got 12 buildings and companies Manufacturing Building Demonstrator occupants of the planned new-build have naturally gravitated around us.”

p48-58 Lancashire.indd 53 03/02/2021 15:49 Lancashire’s 700 scale-up companies contribute £11.1bn to the county’s economy and employ 74,000 people

Two Zero is a dedicated programme to help ambitious Lancashire businesses to grow 20% year-on-year. We give them the tools to build better networks, improve their supply chains and access investment.

By helping Lancashire’s fastest growing ﬁrms to keep scaling, the whole county beneﬁts.

Find out more about /Funded by our programmes at: /twozerolancs.com

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Lancashire’s 700 scale-up companies contribute £11.1bn to the county’s economy and employ 74,000 people Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone Two Zero is a dedicated programme to help ambitious Lancashire businesses to grow 20% year-on-year. We give them the tools to build better networks, improve their supply chains and access investment. Flying high

By helping Lancashire’s fastest growing ﬁrms to keep Big ambition in Blackpool scaling, the whole county beneﬁts. n A surge in people spending on 40,000 sq ft. I’ve been speaking to Rob Blackpool Council and architects from home improvements during [Green, Blackpool Council’s head of C+A Design on designs for a bespoke the lockdown months has resulted enterprise zones] about that. We’re 20,000 sq ft manufacturing facility. in a growth in sales for Blackpool- waiting on costs for the land and for Further to a £400,000 investment based kitchen company Hibberd the build. We’ll then put that to the in new machinery and a move to an Distribution Ltd (HDL). board. We’ve already decided we’re going 8,500 sq ft premises on Blackpool To keep up with demand HDL, to go for it, just need the costings to Airport Enterprise Zone in 2019, PLN which operates from a 15,000 sq ft decide which is the best way to fund it. is continuing on its upward trajectory, headquarters at Blackpool Airport I’m hopeful that in 24 months we will manufacturing pharmaceutical-grade Enterprise Zone, has taken a further move into something purpose-built vitamins, minerals, and supplements. 32,000 sq ft warehouse at Squires and with room for expansion as well.” Production increased by 115 per cent Gate Industrial Estate and employed Another business looking to expand in 2020 and the company invested in another six staff. on the enterprise zone is Private Label two new production lines, as well as Now in its 21st year of business, Nutrition (PLN), which is working with taking on more staff to meet demand. the company distributes and imports kitchens and appliances to the trade, housebuilders and direct to the public through its online shop. It has an additional 22,000 sq ft distribution unit in Stockton-on-Tees, employing a total of 72 staff. Turnover was just shy of £16m in 2019. Managing director Lee Mairs says he’s signed a rolling 12-month lease on the new space in Blackpool but already Find out more about /Funded by has his eye on a bigger space. The our programmes at: long-term plan, he says, is to purchase a building a stone’s throw from the /twozerolancs.com company’s current site. “There are plans for half a dozen units of around Tim Hibberd, HDL channel manager for kitchens, and managing director Lee Mairs Continued on page 58 55

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LANCASHIRE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND 370 Ha ENERGY CLUSTER of development opportunity Lancashire • investinlancashire.com/LAMEC

£100m in private investment already attracted

4 EZs creating over 10,000 high-value jobs

The Lancashire Advanced Manufacturing and Energy Cluster comprises four Enterprise Zones of national significance, with a strong and complementary industrial focus building on Lancashire’s international strengths in the aerospace and defence, advanced engineering and manufacturing, energy, chemicals and digital industries. All four sites offer excellent Lancashire is the only county in the country to be awarded strategic economic and investment propositions. Collectively, they will help to create over four Enterprise Zones. These key employment sites are being 10,000 highly productive, high-value jobs. delivered through a strategic partnership between Lancashire Lancashire is maximising its clear competitive strengths with internationally renowned County Council, Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Councils and the companies supporting strong supply chains. Flagship projects can be found across the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, and they are an integral part PROJECT LAMEC sites, including Lancashire Energy HQ at Blackpool Airport, Victrex’s R&D Polymer of the Greater Lancashire Plan and the Local Industrial Strategy. SUMMARY Innovation Centre at Hillhouse, and BAE Systems Academy for Skills & Knowledge plus DEVELOPER the North West Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, both at Samlesbury. Add to this the research expertise across Lancashire’s four universities, and businesses benefit from an exceptional innovation ecosystem. investinlancashire.com/LAMEC

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LANCASHIRE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING AND 370 Ha ENERGY CLUSTER of development opportunity Lancashire • investinlancashire.com/LAMEC

£100m in private investment already attracted

4 EZs creating over 10,000 high-value jobs

Marketing Lancashire dps 15450.indd All Pages p48-58 Lancashire.indd 57 03/02/2021 12:4415:49 CLUSTERS LANCASHIRE

economy depends on it, it is cyclical. “What we want to do is have year- round attractions to encourage more overnight stays,” he says. “Core to this regeneration of the tourism product is Blackpool Central – a £300m investment”. Blackpool Central includes hotels, restaurants, residential apartments and multi-storey parking. At its heart are attractions such as the UK’s first flying theatre, and an advanced virtual reality experience. Town Deal funding will be used to facilitate the relocation From left: PLN’s Richard Richmond and James Wilson of the Blackpool central courts, key to the delivery of the final stages of the Founded in 2014 by directors James To help resolve the issue, in January development. Wilson and Richard Richmond in Blackpool Council signed the Talbot Gateway is the other major a small start-up premises in Fylde, the terms of its £39.5m Town Deal. As project, working with Muse company moved to the enterprise one of the first seven out of 101 UK Developments. The first phase has zone four years ago. It is now looking towns to secure funding, Blackpool’s already completed and the council for premises more than twice the ambition is to create a more attractive let the contract for phase two during size of the business’s current home. place to live and work, and to boost lockdown. This involved the demolition “We’ll grow into that very quickly,” the local economy. of the Wilko store and the development says Wilson. “We already have new As part of the deal, it secured funding of a four-star Holiday Inn and a Marco machinery that’s due to be installed to invest in infrastructure at Blackpool Pierre White restaurant. and have another line coming in Airport Enterprise Zone. This will open A planning application for a new January. We’re constantly investing in up 15 hectares of land for development, 170,000 sq ft office development has the latest technology.” deliver around 345,000 sq ft of new been submitted that forms phase If there was one thing that could commercial floor space enabling three of the development. The “office help his business flourish even further around 12 new businesses to locate development will bring thousands of is for development on the enterprise there, creating up to 600 new jobs and additional workers into Blackpool town zone to keep up with demand – finding creating a mile of new road access that centre, which will help strengthen the suitably large industrial sites has will improve traffic flow. town centre and support the local proven tricky, he says. And a particular economy. This was important before bugbear has been the access road. Diversified economy Covid, it’s even more afterwards,” says Nick Gerrard, growth and prosperity The Town Deal has unlocked further Gerrard. A pre-let has been secured. programme director at Blackpool development in Blackpool. Another project in its early stages is Council, acknowledges the challenges Nick Gerrard says there are three the relocation of the Blackpool & Fylde businesses have faced. “They’re like major regeneration projects in College campus on Park Road. The new stacking aircraft the enquiries of Blackpool – one on the enterprise development will be a “multiversity”, people who want to go onto the zone and the other two focused on a place to access “university full-time enterprise zone but there aren’t places the town centre. education and training but also the for them to land because the existing Blackpool is best known for tourism life-long learning you’d get at an FE sites are used up, by and large.” and while a “huge chunk” of the college”, says Gerrard.

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Preston looks long term The Preston Partnership and the Preston Towns Fund board, supported by Preston City Council, have made a bid for up to £25m from the government’s Towns Fund

n Civic and business leaders in Preston are waiting to hear whether the Lancashire city has been successful in securing funding from the government’s Towns Fund. Bidding for £25m to regenerate the city – including the area around the Harris Museum, Preston Markets, The Guild Hall and the bus station – the funding will complement the plans outlined in Preston’s 15-year City Investment Plan (CIP). Projects in the CIP will breathe new life into its heritage assets, key buildings and open spaces to The Animate scheme create a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering. leisure and residential uses that bring Youth Zone as a state-of-the-art facility They also strengthen Preston’s people back into the centre. “That’s for young people in Preston aged offering as a ‘15-minute city’. Cllr Peter informed our agenda in the investment eight to 19. The CIP includes other Moss, deputy leader and cabinet plan. We’ve seen green shoots over the major projects. member for planning and regulation last five years of independent leisure, Among them is diversifying the at Preston City Council, says: “Some- retail and cultural offerings coming housing supply to boost city centre body described us as a pocket city, through. We see opportunity through living. There is opportunity in the and I suppose that’s what we want to Towns Fund to pump-prime that.” Stoneygate area, says Moss, where be. There’s lots of talk at the moment Moss says a collaborative model a masterplan sets out the potential about 15-minute cities. Preston has is key to delivery: “We can’t do to deliver 1,600 new homes as well always been that and will continue to be it ourselves and we need our partners as commercial and other floorspace. so, it is a well-connected liveable city.” in the private sector to be able to Stoneygate is an “incredibly ambitious John Chesworth, chair of Preston help us deliver. Preston needs a strong vision” says Moss and adds that he Partnership and Preston Towns Fund Lancashire. Absolutely. But Lancashire wants businesses and investment in Board, says the core of the Towns needs a strong Preston, so the Preston to match the council’s ambition. Fund bid is leisure and culture. “We all development of Preston and how we Delivering a new commercial know that the pandemic has accelerated go about that is so vital.” district at Preston Station Quarter is a trend in high streets that was The Towns Fund is looking to invest another “massive opportunity”, says happening anyway,” he says, adding in projects around the Harris Quarter; Chesworth. With Preston on track that although the percentage of retail a cinema and leisure scheme called to become an HS2 hub, there’s great space might shrink, more space will Animate; improvement of pedestrian potential for investment centred on become available for other work, spaces and development of Preston a “fundamentally office-led proposal”.

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On your marks Ambitious plans are being drafted in Blackburn and in Darwen as the borough sets out its vision for the future

n The council has published its draft This will link strategic sites from the economic strategies cross borders” local plan highlighting six areas of Samlesbury enterprise zone, through and adds that it was essential for the focus. The proposals will see some Blackburn town centre, linking with the council to release the land to facilitate 7,000 new homes and 5,000 net new Haslingden Road corridor and up to further development: “We know from jobs created by 2037 in key development the M65 at Junction 5. speaking to key employers in the borough areas with the aim of boosting the Although the enterprise zone is who are looking to significantly borough’s Covid-19 recovery by improving outside of the borough, Simon Jones, expand, they are seriously considering housing, health and infrastructure such growth programme director at movement out of the borough if as roads and schools. Blackburn with Darwen Council sees it were not for the land that we’re According to the council, the new it as a big driver of economic growth. looking to bring forward. We know plan emphasises the importance of Not least because BAE Systems that this land is needed to grow our providing both high-quality, larger and secured a £1.3bn order to support the employment base.” affordable housing in the areas most production of 38 Eurofighter Typhoon There are also plans in the town needed. It also aims to boost town aircraft for the German Air Force. centre, says Jones. A “large strategic centre recovery post Covid-19. Work starts this year at BAE Systems’ mixed-use site in the town centre” The largest proposed housing sites, sustaining high-value engineering comprising one site in council ownership development site is in North East roles in Lancashire. More than 5,000 and another in private ownership. Blackburn where up to 1,500 new BAE Systems employees directly The former Thwaites brewery site homes could be built over the 20-year support the Typhoon programme in in the town centre spans 13 acres, plan period. Other key proposals in the the UK, supporting a further 10,000 and Jones says the owner is in the local plan include development of the jobs in the UK economy as a whole. process of selling the land. As to what Blackburn Growth Axis. He says “it’s important that our he’d like to see there, Jones says the council is open-minded. Other plans include the Darwen Town Investment Plan. The Darwen Town Deal Board has revealed its bid to government which – topped up with private and council investment – could be worth more than £100m. The board is looking to secure up to £25m of Town Deal and submitted its bid in January. Proposals include developing a new manufacturing “opportunity”, restoring the town’s Victorian market, funding for the library and Library Theatre and improved car parking. The board is also looking to improve BAE Systems Samlesbury “gateways” into the town.

p59-60 Lancashire.indd 60 03/02/2021 12:52 LEADERS SPONSORED BY LANCASHIRE

Lancashire ups its game The county has bold plans for change which could see it speak with one voice to get a share of the national prizes on offer

SPEAKERS Stephen Young n Across Lancashire there are major projects like the City Deal, an SIR HOWARD BERNSTEIN strategic adviser, Deloitte agreement between Homes England, Preston City Council, South Ribble Borough Council and the county council. It is looking to bring forward DAVID TAYLOR chairman, UCLAN about 17,000 new homes across central Lancashire and increase the size of the economy in that central Lancashire band by about £1bn. We’ve RACHEL McQUEEN also got Eden of the North. It will be a game-changer for Morecambe chief executive, Marketing Lancashire and that part of the county, as well as impacting across the whole of the STEPHEN YOUNG North of England. It’s looking likely to get funding in the next Budget. executive director, Lancashire County Council We’ve also got the Bailrigg Garden Village, in Lancaster. It will bring a MARK VAUGHAN number of new homes, job opportunities and extension opportunities to founding director, Hive Land & Planning Lancaster University. There’s Lancashire Central, a major development PHILIP NELL where the M6 comes onto the M61. We’ve got four enterprise zones, and fund manager and head of UK real return in Preston there are developments around the university and in the city assets, LaSalle Investment Management centre. All told, the total value of all of that I’ve described is somewhere DAVID HARLAND around £2.5bn. chief executive, Eden Project International Speaking with one voice is a challenge that we’ve had in Lancashire for MIKE TAYLOR some time. A lot of the conversations earlier in 2020 around a combined customer engagement manager, authority were to try and overcome some of that and I think we’re a lot Electricity North West better than we historically have been. MIKE EMMERICH founding director, MetroDynamics Sir Howard Bernstein n Private sector needs certainty around investments. The local authorities and business leaders need to create proper place-based leadership in order to be able to drive the sorts of programmes which are needed not only to underpin economic competitiveness, but also positive outcomes for people who live in those places. One of the bold moves made by Lancashire and all its partners has been to set in train a new Greater Lancashire plan, which is a very mature approach, addressing whether it’s pursuing the right priorities, the right programmes, and how it can create the essential evidential base which will support government policies around levelling up. In my view, at this stage, it lacks the necessary depth to be able to turn those broad policy priorities into definitive action. What Lancashire is doing, therefore, is going to create that essential platform for influencing real change in Lancashire as well as helping government to define much more clearly the policies and priorities it needs to promote in order to

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ensure Lancashire and the nation as a whole can look forward to the future with a degree of confidence. Should there be a combined authority or mayor of Lancashire? There is no one-size-fits-all approach to governance. All places are different. What you shouldn’t do is try to impose governance models on places Stephen Young which won’t always fit their local circumstances. Top-down change rarely works.

Rachel McQueen n It’s our job to promote the county as a place to live, visit, study and invest, working closely with partners across the county. Our bid for City of Culture 2025 is going to build momentum in 2021. We’re bidding at county scale, which has not been done before. It’s a Sir Howard Bernstein very ambitious vision to imagine a virtual city of 1.5 million people around four different urban hubs: Lancaster, Preston, Blackpool and Blackburn. We’ve got great support from the local authorities who’ve really bought into the vision. We think it could be a real catalyst for change and could be a game-changer for the county. As well as Eden Project, there are other developments – Showtown Museum in Blackpool, for example. Or the Linear Park concept coming out of Super Slow Way, which will connect a ‘corridor of culture’ Rachel McQueen through the heritage sites around our canal ways.

Philip Nell n Delivery risk is a real concern for investors. I’ve worked on projects across the UK and dealing with local authorities and local stakeholders who are uncoordinated can be a very painful process. Coordination between key stakeholders is critical. The pandemic has repositioned our mindset and accelerating trends. Homeworking was already happening, but it’s made it more acceptable. It’s shown how important infrastructure is. Whether it’s helped or hindered the climate crisis interventions is yet to be seen but it’s shown “Our bid for City of Culture 2025 us that we’re not quite as invulnerable as we perhaps thought. is going to build momentum In accelerating these trends it’s radically changed the investable universe for your run-of-the-mill property investors. There was already in 2021. We’re bidding at transition happening at pace within the retail sector. Most of our urban county scale, which has centres are aggregated around a bricks and mortar retail offer which, in not been done before.” a lot of cases, was already in significant decline. So in terms of how do we get Lancashire to become a more appealing Rachel McQueen place to invest, Howard and his colleagues did wonders for the transformational change that happened in Manchester over the last 20 years. I’ve invested in Preston for various funds I’ve run. We manage the British Aerospace pension fund and we own the Samlesbury site. That’s the operational site for BAE, and the option land on the enterprise zone. So we’re currently engaging with the county council about how to release

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that land more efficiently and how to engender more active development of that site. The challenge that Lancashire has is speaking with one voice. Having a single county bid for the City of Culture is ground-breaking. It could be really powerful. “We’ve got a very diverse Mark Vaughan economic base which helps, n We’re a development consultancy recently appointed on Bailrigg Garden Village and we’re also part of the team behind the Preston city but there’s a whole living strategy. In my former role at what is now Homes England, range of new areas to I worked on the Preston City Deal. embrace and I think the It’s all about creating those circumstances whereby the private sector is keen to invest. I think that’s what the Preston City Deal did really well. universities in particular So if you look at the city deal, we had an adopted core strategy across have a big role to play.” the three local authorities in central Lancashire. We had large-scale David Taylor public investment going in from the local authorities, DCLG as was, and from Homes England. Homes England’s financial assets were being recycled back into the programme. What we had and we need to ensure we replicate where possible, is that alignment of interests. Philip Nell I’d like to think there’s been a real recognition of what that achieved, and the need to put in upfront infrastructure. And while I can’t talk expansively about Bailrigg, I think that is a real acknowledgment through government that there’s a need for investment in infrastructure.

David Taylor n In Lancashire, we’re building on the strength of our diverse base. We’re not nearly as dependent as we were at one stage on individual Mark Vaughan industries or sectors. We’re strong in manufacturing. All four of the enterprise zones have a range of exciting projects coming forward. The tourism and leisure offer is good but still underutilised. And our higher and further education offer is good with three outstanding and quite different universities. I think it’s important that they’re different. If you look at what UCLan’s done with support from the LEP and other public funding, we’re probably two thirds of the way into the first phase of the capital expenditure programme of £300m. We are transforming David Taylor a collection of buildings that were rather badly connected into a campus. In terms of Preston city centre it’s having a huge impact. We have 30,000 students and 12,000 members of staff. We’re also part-way through a fundraising programme, raising between £50m and £100m to keep the momentum going, including expanding our medical school. We’ve got a very diverse economic base which helps, but there’s a whole range of new areas to embrace and I think the universities in particular have a big role to play by developing courses. I think one of the things we need to do is to try to anticipate what skills will be needed to try and retain graduates and to understand what the growth sectors are and to work on them. Continued on page 66 63

p61-66 Lancashire RT.indd 63 03/02/2021 14:09 Advanced Manufacturing Automotive Digital and Creative and Advanced Engineering The North produces 500,000 passenger Our growing status as a university town Burnley is a force to be reckoned cars every year, representing over goes hand in hand with our digital jobs BURNLEY MEANS with when it comes to advanced 40% of the UK’s total. As a whole, success. In fact, we rank second in manufacturing and advanced the UK is home to six mainstream the UK for digital jobs growth. During engineering. In total, these major car manufacturers, 11 engine 2014-2015 alone, we saw annual sectors and all of their sub sectors, manufacturers, seven major sports car growth of almost 162%, compared to including aerospace and automotive, and premium manufacturers and 20 2% across Great Britain and 30% across BUSINESS… account for 7,000 jobs in Burnley – research and design centres – not to the rest of the North West. With UCLan approximately 20% of total jobs in mention more than 2,400 suppliers. committed to having 4,000 university the town. Burnley’s prime central position in students in Burnley by 2025, we are Build Yours Here the UK makes it a convenient location excited to see this sector further Aerospace for automotive companies who expand. There are almost 19,000 We’re the first to admit that sometimes it can benefit from Burnley’s and other employees in the digital sector in Our central location in the North West surprises people just how many vibrant manufacturing hubs. Lancashire, with the highest proportion means we are at the heart of the wider sectors call our town home. Here are working in Burnley and Pendle. Here, regional advanced engineering cluster. just a handful of the thriving sectors you some 6,500 digital sector employees The North West aerospace cluster is could work in or tap into. can be found. These individuals the biggest in Europe, contributing account for more than 4% of total £7 billion to the UK economy - 25% of employment in the travel to work area. UK aerospace turnover. Burnley may Between 2012 and 2017, there was a be at the heart of the North West and 20% increase in the number of digital therefore its advanced engineering businesses in Burnley and Pendle. cluster, but we offer a highly competitive cost base. Our industrial rents and labour costs are significantly Education and Training lower than some of the other clusters in Burnley is a growing university town, this sector in other parts of the country. with UCLan planning to offer courses to 4,000 students by 2025. That’s on top Manufacturing Logistics of the qualifications already offered by We are proud to also host renowned Burnley has a varied logistics Burnley College and University Courses advanced manufacturing companies sector and is home to renowned global Burnley, as well as the town’s other that deliver cutting-edge products. brands such as Boohoo.com (fashion further education establishments. Burnley’s average labour costs are and textiles), Exertis (technology Burnley College offers a sixth-form 12.5% lower than national average. In distribution) and Fagan & Whalley centre, university courses, Themis comparison, Derby’s average labour (haulage). Liverpool Superport is an apprenticeships and adult learning. costs tracks the same as the national hour away, whilst there are three Rated by Oftsed as Outstanding, the average, making our town an affordable international airports within an college also has the second-largest strategic hub. Our convenient transport hour’s drive - Manchester Airport, apprenticeship programme in network not only simplifies logistics, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Lancashire. This is supported by the but means talent can be attracted Leeds-Bradford International Airport. exciting and thriving sectors that burnley.co.uk across a large part of the North West, Burnley is also located on the apprentices can gain experience in. Its including Liverpool, Leeds M65, which opens to the M6, M62 Sixth Form Centre was also announced and Manchester. and beyond. as the top in England in 2020.

st nd Mean TOP house price burnley.co.uk Contact us: 4000 £106,199 University If you like what you see and want to ﬁnd out more, please get in touch. for1 % of industry most2 successful uk We have a Specialist Business Team to provide support for businesses from students made up by town for digital 36% by 2025 of national average start-ups to global giants. Drop them an email at [email protected] manufacturing jobs growth 16UK Tech Town Visit www.burnley.co.uk/work-invest/ for more information

p61-66 Lancashire RT.indd 64 03/02/2021 14:09 Advanced Manufacturing Automotive Digital and Creative and Advanced Engineering The North produces 500,000 passenger Our growing status as a university town Burnley is a force to be reckoned cars every year, representing over goes hand in hand with our digital jobs BURNLEY MEANS with when it comes to advanced 40% of the UK’s total. As a whole, success. In fact, we rank second in manufacturing and advanced the UK is home to six mainstream the UK for digital jobs growth. During engineering. In total, these major car manufacturers, 11 engine 2014-2015 alone, we saw annual sectors and all of their sub sectors, manufacturers, seven major sports car growth of almost 162%, compared to including aerospace and automotive, and premium manufacturers and 20 2% across Great Britain and 30% across BUSINESS… account for 7,000 jobs in Burnley – research and design centres – not to the rest of the North West. With UCLan approximately 20% of total jobs in mention more than 2,400 suppliers. committed to having 4,000 university the town. Burnley’s prime central position in students in Burnley by 2025, we are Build Yours Here the UK makes it a convenient location excited to see this sector further Aerospace for automotive companies who expand. There are almost 19,000 We’re the first to admit that sometimes it can benefit from Burnley’s and other employees in the digital sector in Our central location in the North West surprises people just how many vibrant manufacturing hubs. Lancashire, with the highest proportion means we are at the heart of the wider sectors call our town home. Here are working in Burnley and Pendle. Here, regional advanced engineering cluster. just a handful of the thriving sectors you some 6,500 digital sector employees The North West aerospace cluster is could work in or tap into. can be found. These individuals the biggest in Europe, contributing account for more than 4% of total £7 billion to the UK economy - 25% of employment in the travel to work area. UK aerospace turnover. Burnley may Between 2012 and 2017, there was a be at the heart of the North West and 20% increase in the number of digital therefore its advanced engineering businesses in Burnley and Pendle. cluster, but we offer a highly competitive cost base. Our industrial rents and labour costs are significantly Education and Training lower than some of the other clusters in Burnley is a growing university town, this sector in other parts of the country. with UCLan planning to offer courses to 4,000 students by 2025. That’s on top Manufacturing Logistics of the qualifications already offered by We are proud to also host renowned Burnley has a varied logistics Burnley College and University Courses advanced manufacturing companies sector and is home to renowned global Burnley, as well as the town’s other that deliver cutting-edge products. brands such as Boohoo.com (fashion further education establishments. Burnley’s average labour costs are and textiles), Exertis (technology Burnley College offers a sixth-form 12.5% lower than national average. In distribution) and Fagan & Whalley centre, university courses, Themis comparison, Derby’s average labour (haulage). Liverpool Superport is an apprenticeships and adult learning. costs tracks the same as the national hour away, whilst there are three Rated by Oftsed as Outstanding, the average, making our town an affordable international airports within an college also has the second-largest strategic hub. Our convenient transport hour’s drive - Manchester Airport, apprenticeship programme in network not only simplifies logistics, Liverpool John Lennon Airport and Lancashire. This is supported by the but means talent can be attracted Leeds-Bradford International Airport. exciting and thriving sectors that burnley.co.uk across a large part of the North West, Burnley is also located on the apprentices can gain experience in. Its including Liverpool, Leeds M65, which opens to the M6, M62 Sixth Form Centre was also announced and Manchester. and beyond. as the top in England in 2020.

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Mike Emmerich n We’ve been appointed to run the Lancashire Independent Economic Review. One could argue that Lancashire has already had enough incentives to pull together and hasn’t as well as some other places. I just wonder how many people in West Lancashire see UCLan as one of its Mike Emmerich assets? And how many people in Blackburn see the Eden project as their asset? I suspect not enough. The whole is always greater than the sum of the parts. But if you come from a deficit model – ‘they’ve got it, we want it’ – you’re not going to get the prizes that the government will put on offer for places that are cooperating. My hope from the process will be to show that sometimes a borough on one side of the motorway prioritising an investment on the other side Mike Taylor might actually benefit them more.

Mike Taylor n We’re working with Lancashire on a few schemes. Samlesbury [at the enterprise zone] has been a project that had not moved for some time. One of the main problems was the electrical infrastructure there. In addition to the £64m we’re investing in and around the North West to get to zero carbon, we are investing a further £7.5m at Samlesbury to try David Harland get it away with a new primary substation. There will be around 23km of cable going into to help that green economy. Some of the new technologies they’re looking to attract to the park will kick-start that green economy in Lancashire. We’re on-site and digging at the moment. For the area it means prosperity and jobs and a lot of power.

David Harland n One of the joys of doing this the second time around, is that the first time I think most people thought that Tim [Sir Tim Smit, Eden Project’s co-founder] was probably mad to take a china clay pit and put a rainforest in it. But actually, in the first ten years of Eden in Cornwall, we “All everyone wants to talk retrofitted a lot of things that we were able to build in from day one in about is parking and transport. Morecambe. So there is already an educational plan with the universities and college in the area; there is already a clear way we can work with But that’s good because the community. We’ve now submitted into government for £70m of the people are starting to imagine it. £125m that is needed. The rest, we hope, will come from social They’re imagining their investment. The team are working on the planning application and the project is basically shovel-ready. businesses benefiting from it.” My role takes me all over the world. So we’re doing this in China, David Harland Australia, America… and it doesn’t matter where you are but all everyone wants to talk about is parking and transport. That’s good because people are starting to imagine it. They’re imagining their businesses benefiting from it.

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