Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has today unveiled a 10-year plan designed to boost the local economy by £10 billion and create tens of thousands of new jobs. Tony McDonough reports
The Liverpool City Region Growth Plan sets out a roadmap to raise productivity, attract investment, improve living standards and deliver better services for the region’s 1.6 million residents.
If productivity matched the national average, it could add £6 billion to the region’s £43.3 billion-a-year economy.
The plan focuses on growing the city region’s most productive industries – including advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences, digital and tech, and the creative sector – supported by maritime, professional services and the visitor economy.
A key element is the region’s ambition to lead in clean energy and green technologies, including plans for the world’s largest tidal power scheme.
The scheme – the “first of a kind” in the UK –could generate clean, predictable energy for 120 years and create thousands of jobs in its construction and operation. It received strong support in its first public engagement in January.
Developed with local authorities, businesses, universities, community organisations, unions and Government, the Growth Plan also highlights investment in skills, transport, housing, health and infrastructure to support long-term growth.
Since devolution in 2017, the Liverpool City Region says it has built 35,000 new homes, created 45,000 jobs, started 74,000 apprenticeships, and grown the local economy more than £43 billion.
Forecasts suggest the Growth Plan, alongside continued investment across the North, could add more than £10 billion to the regional economy and create tens of thousands of jobs, aligning with the UK Government’s national growth mission.
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The plan was launched at the Materials Innovation Factory, a world-leading partnership between the University of Liverpool and Unilever, showcasing the region’s strengths in materials science and innovation.
Major opportunities highlighted include:
• £11bn investment pipeline across key sectors
• Life Sciences Innovation Zone and LCR Freeport under a shared Industrial Strategy Zone status
• £550m Health Innovation Liverpool (HIL) project creating 2,200 jobs and over £1bn in economic benefits
• Expansion of Daresbury’s cryo-plant into a National Cryogenics Facility, supporting global quantum computing
• Clean energy and zero-bills housing innovations
• Cammell Laird’s advanced manufacturing and defence capabilities
Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Our Growth Plan is a blueprint for a fairer, greener, more prosperous future — one where ambition, partnership and determination come together to create jobs, power homes with clean energy, and give every child the chance to reach their full potential here.
“Growth isn’t an abstract idea — it’s about jobs you can build a life on, affordable homes, opportunities for young people, and investment that brings prosperity back to our communities.
“This is our moment to show the country what we can achieve when we back ourselves and build the infrastructure for the next generation.”