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‘We’ve seen only 35 jobs’: north Wales growth deal ‘way off’ 4,200 target

26 Jun 2025 4 minute read
Sam Kurtz

Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter

The £1bn north Wales growth deal aimed to create around 4,200 jobs when it was signed four-and-a-half years ago but has delivered only 35 so far, a committee heard.

Charlie McCoubrey, vice-chair of the north Wales economic ambition board, said four projects have moved into delivery, with a further six in the pipeline. But he recognised: “We’re all disappointed by the pace and scale of the delivery so far.”

Cllr McCoubrey told the Senedd’s economic committee that projects, which were no longer considered viable as part of the 15-year deal, have been removed from plans.

The independent leader of Conwy council said some projects have been removed entirely while others have moved to a reserve list.

Hedd Vaughan-Evans, head of operations for Ambition North Wales, a partnership between six councils, was similarly disappointed by progress on the deal.

‘Very low’

But he said: “We really turned a corner last year in terms of the number of business cases approved… and the forecast for the coming years is really positive.”

Sam Kurtz, a Conservative member of the Senedd economy committee, questioned the witnesses about the growth deal delivering a total investment of £16.6m since 2020.

Pressed about the level of private investment, Cllr McCoubrey said: “At the moment, the actual level of private-sector investment is very low, it’s £1.8m.” He told the committee the private investment target for the six projects due to move into delivery is £137m.

He pointed to the growth deal’s role in the Deeside anaerobic digestion plant, which generated a £60m investment, though “that doesn’t go on our balance sheet”.

Mr Vaughan-Evans explained that the Trawsfynydd project, aimed at supporting the nuclear industry, was a significant proportion, roughly 40%, of the deal.

‘Optimism bias’

“So, it was heavily weighted towards one project that has now been removed,” he said. “And that, obviously, leaves us with a challenge as a region that we need to meet.”

Mr Vaughan-Evans was open with Senedd members, acknowledging that the growth deal is “significantly behind” on original jobs forecasts.

He said: “On reflection, the original forecasts at the time of signing the deal were rife with optimism bias in terms of how mature some of the projects were.”

He told the committee the pandemic and ensuing inflation crisis only exacerbated problems.

Mr Vaughan-Evans said: “We’ve seen only 35 jobs created but that’s on the back of only one project in operation and three currently in delivery, so we hope to see a significant increase.”

Ambition North Wales’ written evidence showed 26 were direct jobs, with nine indirect.

‘25% less’

Cllr McCoubrey said: “Flexibility will be required, looking at the targets in light of inflationary challenges… and projects that have fallen out like Trawsfynydd, there needs to be a wholesale look at what we are trying to target.

“I would emphasise as well, there’s an awful lot of emphasis on new jobs – in the current climate, I think it’s just as important to look at protecting existing jobs as well. There’s no point creating 4,000 jobs in one area if you’re losing 4,000 jobs elsewhere.”

He pointed out that you would need £310m today to match the buying power of the £240m contribution pledged from Westminster and Cardiff Bay in 2020. “What we can do with that money is 25% less than it would have been,” said the council chief.

Mr Vaughan-Evans explained that Ambition North Wales has flexibility around individual projects but the overarching targets remain fixed.

He suggested north Wales may have to return money not drawn down, with further clarity being sought from the Welsh and UK Governments. “That would have a long-term implication on the deal, what we could fund and our ability to hit the targets,” he said.


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Rate Payer
Rate Payer
20 days ago

Can the councils afford to pay for the 29 jobs this lot have created for themselves in running this outfit – if they are all on say £40k per year, that’s well over £1m in wage bills alone!! (I checked earlier, and couldn’t believe there was so many, and what about consultants!!). Also, Trawsfynydd doesn’t need any intervention from a council run body if the Government decided to build a new reactor, so to hide behind this raises further questions.

Peter J
Peter J
20 days ago
Reply to  Rate Payer

A couple of them are on far more than 40k per year! And many doubted their suitability when appointed.
I agree fully re Traws.
The portfolio of ideas which came forward were quite poor, in my view. That’s a reflection on the labour and plaid, who mostly proposed projects at LA level.
It’s also a unflattering reflection on north Welsh politics that a tory MS from Pembrokeshire has to raise this as an issue

Aussie
Aussie
20 days ago

Why were only 35 jobs created after four-and-a-half years? What are the precise barriers delaying more substantial job creation?

Peter J
Peter J
20 days ago
Reply to  Aussie

Some of the projects were never going to create jobs – purely academic research projects, and clearly just an photo opp for some politicians. I’ve no idea why they were funded using this money Some of these projects haven’t kicked off yet, so they might well increase the job creation from the Growth Deal, but these are typically projects like Parc Bryn Cegin or the one in Flintshire which really should be able to stand on their own feet and not need this type of money. Overall, there appears to be a failure in not working more with the private… Read more »

Last edited 20 days ago by Peter J
Howie
Howie
19 days ago

Along with the Swansea Bay deal which has created just 10% of the jobs over a decade you have to wonder where this money is going, it seems on Council projects that in essence they created by shutting or closing existing facilities then creating similar, when you net off the jobs lost over period it makes even dire reading.

Colin Pendre
Colin Pendre
18 days ago

Cannot understand why we arent all, down at the Senydd protesting at the decision to appoint 36 more A. M, s. We dont need more representation.. Its not for the benefit of the people. Its a scandal.

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