‘Transformational’ north Wales Investment Zone given official go-ahead
Alec Doyle, Local Democracy Reporter
Two north Wales counties have been given an early Christmas present after the UK and Welsh Governments officially confirmed the launch of the Advanced Manufacturing Investment Zone.
The news, announced on Friday 19 December, comes after Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet joining Wrexham County Borough Council’s Executive Board in signing off on the first major grant programme connected to the zone – the SME Manufacturing Grant.
The 10-year Investment Zone programme will see key sites in Flintshire and Wrexham including the Deeside Gateway, Deeside Industrial Park, Wrexham Industrial Estate and Warren Hall near Broughton designated as low tax zones for advanced manufacturing businesses, with exclusive access to grant funding and support.
It will also open up funding for apprenticeship and education programmes to ensure that the local workforce in North East Wales is trained and equipped to offer the skills those businesses need, aiming to make the region a specialist advanced manufacturing hub.
It is anticipated that by utilising £160 million of UK and Welsh Government grant funding, the Flintshire/Wrexham Investment Zone will generate around 6,000 jobs and £1 billion of investment.
Leader of Wrexham Council and Chair of the Ambition North Wales Corporate Joint Committee – the strategic body co-ordinating the project – Cllr Mark Pritchard said: “By focusing on Advanced Manufacturing, Innovation, Skills and Infrastructure, the Investment Zone will play a vital role in driving sustainable economic growth.
“It will help create high-quality jobs and strengthen the region’s position as a powerhouse for advanced industry in Wales, and I’m delighted that the UK and Welsh governments have given their formal approval. This is the start of a really exciting journey for Flintshire and Wrexham.”
Cllr Dave Hughes, Leader of Flintshire County Council, added: “This is a hugely positive step. The new Investment Zone will give us a platform to attract new investment, ideas and opportunities – supporting businesses, creating jobs and inspiring the next generation.
“Flintshire and Wrexham already have an incredible base of innovative, world-class manufacturers, and the Investment Zone will allow us to build on this and help unlock the region’s massive potential.”
Major boost
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said the launch of the zone was a major boost for Wales.
“The Flintshire and Wrexham Investment Zone will support the delivery of our Economic Mission by attracting major investment, creating thousands of well-paid jobs and cementing the region’s reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing and innovation,” she said.
“This announcement is the culmination of extensive partnership working by regional partners and government. It presents a huge opportunity to unlock growth and deliver significant benefits for businesses and communities in the area.”
The UK Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said the Investment Zone would ‘supercharge’ the regional economy.
“The UK Government is investing £160 million in this Investment Zone to supercharge economic growth, drive private investment and create thousands of new well-paid jobs which will put money in the pockets of people in north Wales,” she said.
“There is huge potential for growth and for building on the advanced manufacturing expertise that already exists in the region.
“I’m delighted that we are moving forward with the programme which will have a transformational impact for people living and working in north East Wales.”
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This early preelection sweetener made by UK Labour’s England cabinet overseer Jo Stevens giving the illusion that she and the Welsh Government are working together when clearly not has nothing to do with any adverse press in England, Welsh Government power grab or threat to any sitting Welsh Labour members running for or intending to stand in next May’s Senedd Cymru election.
Pretty pathetic comment. It’s supporting the growth of high value jobs in Wales, these sort of investments need bi-government investment and coordination. Flintshire is the only LA in Wales who’s GVA is above the Uk average so it’s clearly a strength in wales, especially as there are so many manufacturing jobs. One of the major beneficiaries is an English based company expanding operations further in Wales.
Not everything is a conspiracy
“Flintshire is the only LA in Wales who’s GVA is above the Uk average”
Shouldn’t government investment be in the regions that need it the most?
Nice to read a thoughtful point. Lies of the heart of economic development. Clearly Flintshire and Wrexham are lower risk, it’s about building critical mass and a globally competitive region. There is an existing supply chains (aerospace, automotive, advanced materials) and skilled workforce, colleges etc. Importantly has a much stronger likelihood of attracting private co investment- you’ll never get this without a big multinational like JCB or airbus. By contrast -take Gwynedd, it would be almost opposite in every regard. So spending 160 million there is massive risk, but maybe shouldn’t be ignored as we should still pursue inclusive growth.… Read more »
The answer is both. If a successful region can offer some easy good value growth then it makes sense to support that. But there should be a disproportionately higher level of investment in regions with lower gdp per capita.
The UK has a long history of only watering its greenest grass and wondering why the rest of the lawn is barren.
What history tells us is backing “one big saviour” with huge sums like LG is a mistake when lots of smaller investments allows for some to fail, some to do ok and some succeed beyond all expectations.
The danger of a low tax regime is that when the organisations lose their lower rates of tax, they may move to a different region that is offering lower taxes and has lower labour rates – a downward spiral of low tax returns, low productivity and economic decline. In logistics you can follow Starbucks / Costa Coffee ( following takeover by Coca Cola) both see their profits decline as their owners focus on changing their organisations structure to have the highest tax breaks. Sadly both Astra Zeneca and GSK are moving investments and roles to USA as the current Labour… Read more »
Depends on the business. Companies like Toyota and JCB are already minimising tax burden quite successfully
I gather you are a Labour supporter with your fervent defense? It’s not the funding I’m criticising but the politicising. If you think UK Labour are not capable are very naive.
Wales badly needs high level/paying jobs; ‘you’ are not going to get them in areas classified as high risk because of lack of local talent, supply chains, potential customers etc. etc.