Northern mayors unite on £118 billion Great North growth plan

Regeneration bosses have unveiled a £118 million development blueprint.

Mayors across the North East, Cumbria, North West and Yorkshire have set out transformational change to the transport, energy, manufacturing, digital and cultural sectors.

Known as The Great North, and chaired by North East mayor Kim McGuinness, they say it will “bang the drum for the North and help drive even more global investment”.

The partnership, which promises to lead international trade missions and deliver a new Northern Investment Summit, has been backed by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, who says it will “give local leaders the tools they need to realise areas’ potential”.

The endeavour – which comprises regeneration leaders including Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin – features The Northern Arc and White Rose Plan that calls for investment in cross-Pennine travel links, notably a new Liverpool to Manchester rail line. 

The blueprint also includes creation of an east coast energy hub to “power the clean energy revolution” and a so-called Northern security corridor to “bring together key industrial, engineering and cyber assets essential to the UK’s international security”.

It also advocates new advanced materials and manufacturing corridors, and the One Creative North partnership, which bosses say would “drive inward cultural investment and economic growth”.

Mayor McGuinness said: “The time has come for a resurgent North to unite and proudly lead the way to a fairer, more prosperous UK, and The Great North is our vehicle for change.

“This country needs a Northern story written by Northern minds, not one handed to us by Whitehall, and The Great North puts us on track to write it. 

“The opportunity is immense and we are ready to work with anyone who is equally determined to create good jobs.”

Ben Houchen, Tees Valley mayor, added: “For too long, the North has played second fiddle to London, but this is changing, and now we want to go further. 

“The Great North is a great brand and now we need to make sure it’s not just a logo.”

Highlighting the potential of One Creative North, mayor Brabin said the project would help turn the tide on a creative talent brain drain.

She said: “We are working together to join up our creative industries, turbocharging growth, skills and good jobs. 

“One Creative North is a bold answer to a decade of underinvestment in the creative industries, and will put the UK back on the creative and cultural map.” 

Mayor Burnham added: “The Great North is our opportunity to come together to champion our strengths and put forward our proposition to the Government, the country and the rest of the world.”  

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