Midlands Engine partners – including the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership – joined (pictured left) Communities Secretary Sajid Javid MP today (October 12) on a visit to a major Midlands housing project.
Mr Javid visited the former Rugby Radio Station site in Houlton, Rugby, Warwickshire, to see progress on the development, which is looking to create 6,200 new homes.
The Secretary of State was accompanied on his visit by representatives of businesses and local authorities involved in the Midlands Engine partnership, which has now published its response to the Government’s own Midlands Engine Strategy. Among the ambitions stated in this response to the Government’s Strategy is the plan for the Midlands Engine to back delivery of over 600,000 homes over the next 15 years, in its region.
D2N2 Chief Executive David Ralph who, together with D2N2 Chair Peter Richardson, has been heavily involved in developing the Midlands Engine partnership and vision for growth was invited to join Mr Javid, Midlands Engine Chairman Sir John Peace and other partners today.
Other ambitions in the Midlands Engine partnership’s Vision for Growth – are for it to be a major power for the UK economy, compete on the world stage, and build on the Government’s long-term strategy to achieve greater economic growth and productivity across the whole Midlands. The ME partnership’s vision sets out five investment priorities to accelerate productivity across the region and power the growth of an economy already worth around £200 billion.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The Midlands is essential to our national economic success and we have an ambitious vision for the region. That’s why we committed £392million to the region through the Local Growth Fund earlier this year.
“Working with local partners will be crucial to its success and the Midlands Engine Partnership is putting local leaders, businesses and residents in the driving seat. I look forward to working with them on delivering their bold Vision for Growth.”
In March (2017) the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership received £62.9million in the latest round of the Government’s Local Growth Fund allocations. This money will be used to jointly fund infrastructure projects in the LEP’s area – Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire – which directly aid economic growth and create jobs. For more information on the projects currently receiving or earmarked for funding (subject to business plan) see D2N2 website link www.d2n2lep.org/Local-Growth-Fund/Projects
Sir John Peace, Chair of the Midlands Engine, added today: “The Midlands Engine ‘Vision for Growth’ sets out our ambition to add at least £54billion of extra growth to the UK economy by 2030. We are now getting on with the task of implementing this vision. That means playing our part in building the homes the nation needs.
“We have committed to 600,000 new homes being built by 2030. Building these homes is not only necessary to attracting and retaining the workforce of the future, it will also contribute directly to increased productivity.”
For more on the Midlands Engine see its website at www.midlandsengine.org and to see an online copy of its Vision for Growth click on the web link HERE.
Media wanting more information on the work of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership can contact D2N2 Communications Manager Sean Kirby on 0115 957 8749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
