A fund started in 2015 to support major projects across Liverpool city region has helped create almost 10,000 jobs – 2,000 alone in the past year. Tony McDonough reports

More than 2,000 jobs have been created over the past 12 months thanks to investment from the Liverpool city region Local Growth Fund (LGF).

LGF was set up in 2015 with £313m of Government funding. This was secured by Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership. Between 2015 and 2021 it has been invested in major capital projects via the Combined Authority’s Strategic Investment Fund.

In the past seven years the LGF has invested in almost 200 projects. This has led to the creation of 9,811 jobs. Over the past 12 months 2,045 new jobs have been created. This is 35% above forecasts and includes 526 apprenticeships. LGF has also funded 4,011 new learners in the past 12 month – 42% above forecast.

Money has been committed up to 2025. It is forecast this will leverage an additional £225m in investment and lead to the creation of 18,000 jobs. Projects include:

• Halton Curve -£13m LGF funds resulting in track and signalling upgrades allowing the curve to be brought back into full use.
• Maghull North –£10.7m LGF funded project delivered a new railway station including a 156-space car park with blue badge and motorcycle parking facilities, as well as cycle storage.
• Silver Jubilee Bridge – more than £5m of LGF funds have enabled major upgrade works to take place.
• Knowsley Industrial Park– more than £4m of LGF funds have enabled highways works to improve accessibility to the Knowsley Industrial Park area. 
• Wirral STEM Centre – £2m of LGF funding created a new health campus on the Wirral Waters Enterprise Zone.
• Hythe – £3m invested in Hythe, previously called 1 Tower Road, a new sustainable, office building in Four Bridges area of Wirral Waters.
• Kirkby Town Centre – a £13m investment from the LGF is supporting a redevelopment scheme for the town centre.
• City Centre Connectivity – £37.8m of LGF funding supporting Liverpool City Council’s ongoing scheme for the city centre.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “The beauty of devolution is the significant tangible impact that local decision making has on communities across our region. I want to make sure that every pound we spend is going towards creating a better, fairer future.

“I’ve set an ambitious target to create 18,000 new jobs and generate an additional £225m worth of investment in our economy by 2025. For too long, too many in our region have been held back, not because of a lack of ambition, but a lack of opportunity. Investments such as this offer a promise of hope to people.”