Prime Minister to 'unlock the potential in the North' with major investments for Northern Powerhouse

Prime Minister Theresa May is set to unveils details of a devolution deal for the North East during her Cabinet meeting in Gateshead later on today.

Discussions at the Cabinet meeting will focus on implementing the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, making sure the government delivers a Brexit deal works for the entire UK, and discussing the role of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) in boosting growth and prosperity across the Northern Powerhouse.

As part of the government’s commitment to overhaul transport in the region, the Prime Minister will confirm an investment of up to £780m for upgrades to the East Coast Main Line from 2019, to be completed in the early 2020s.

The work will take place over the next few years and will see improvements to platforms, tracks, signals and junctions across the route.

Together with new Intercity Express Trains on the East Coast Main Line, this will mean passengers travelling on long distance journeys between northern towns and cities will benefit from more seats and faster, more frequent journeys between Doncaster, Leeds and Newcastle.

The Prime Minister is also set to confirm that the government will lay the legislation to formally conclude the North of Tyne Devolution Deal with Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside.

The deal is worth £600m over 30 years and is expected to generate 10,000 new jobs in the region.

Alongside this, as part of the wider economic transformation of the North East, Theresa May will announce a further investment of £180 million to support innovation and cutting-edge research in Offshore Renewable Energy Innovation and High-Value Manufacturing Catapults, which has facilities in the region.

Prime Minister Theresa May said: “Making Britain a country that works for everyone, in urban and rural regions, is a priority for my government - and a thriving economy across the Northern Powerhouse is central to that.

“We have set out major policies and investments as part of our Modern Industrial Strategy to unlock the potential in the North - and more than any government in history, we are making sure that we are delivering the outcomes that really matter to people who live and work here.”