International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox is launching a £30bn drive to attract foreign investment into the UK with Liverpool Waters, Wirral Waters and Pall Mall key to the strategy. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool Waters, Wirral Waters and Pall Mall are on a list of 68 prestige projects across the UK that has been compiled by the Government as it looks to attract investors from across the globe.
As part of the new Industrial Strategy, International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox is launching a £30bn drive to attract foreign investment into the UK at a meeting of the Board of Trade on Thursday.
Liverpool Waters and Wirral Waters are property development projects on either side of the River Mersey with a combined value of almost £10bn with property giant Peel Land & Property behind both.
On the Liverpool side the focus is on residential and office schemes as well as plans for a new £500m football stadium for Everton FC. Wirral also includes office and residential but also has an industrial focus with plans for the £25m Maritime Knowledge Hub.
Pall Mall is a £400m scheme in Liverpool’s central business district, the focus of which is to bring much needed grade A office space to the city. Other North West projects on the Government list, include Media City and Trafford Waters in Greater Manchester as well as Protos in Cheshire.
Dr Fox: “This is a bold and ambitious programme, building on the UK’s position as the leading destination for foreign investment in Europe through the Government’s Industrial Strategy, helping to build a Britain fit for the future.
“The high potential opportunities scheme will deliver growth where it is most needed, ensuring that the benefits of global investment are felt in every part of the country. And with more than £30 billion worth of new opportunities, my international economic department’s overseas network is working hard to attract top investors to the UK.”
The Department for International Trade works directly with companies in 177 cities in 108 countries around the world. Last year it helped attract 2,265 investment projects which created or safeguarded 108,000 jobs in the UK.