Strategic Regional Sites

Along with its public and private sector partners, the NWDA is helping to create well-designed, technology-friendly 21st century property infrastructure, encouraging companies, entrepreneurs and knowledge-driven industries to invest in the Northwest.

The Agency has formally designated 25 major employment sites as strategically important to the region. It is making clear progress in priming these for investment, working closely with the private sector on a number of developments across the region.

In terms of business development, the sites support cluster development, business incubation and university spin-outs, in addition to providing high quality locations for both indigenous and inward investment.

The sites are also critical to meeting regeneration objectives. Sites within regeneration priority areas provide high-value jobs in areas of employment need. Derelict and contaminated sites are reclaimed to create high quality business locations, facilitating job creation and improving the urban fabric of the region’s towns and cities.

Delivery of the sites is closely linked to achieving skills objectives, supporting large scale job creation, particularly high-value jobs in the knowledge-based industries. A number of the sites have a specific focus on developing closer links between the region’s world class higher education institutions and industry.

The Agency’s involvement in strategic sites is dependent on the circumstances at individual sites. In all cases, the Agency will seek to influence the planning process in consultations on development plans and planning applications. In some cases, the Agency also provides support in other areas, including encouraging others to provide transport infrastructure and facilitating site assembly through acquisition.

The NWDA's 25 Strategic Regional Sites

Cheshire and Warrington

• Alderley Park (Astra Zeneca), Macclesfield
• Basford, Crewe
• Chester Business Park
• Omega South, Warrington

Cumbria

• Kingmoor, Carlisle
• Westlakes, Whitehaven

Greater Manchester

• Ashton Moss, Tameside
• Barton, Salford
• Carrington, Trafford
• Central Park, Manchester
• Davenport Green, Trafford
• Kingsway Business Park, Rochdale

Lancashire

• Cuerden Regional Business Park, Leyland/Preston
• Lancaster University/Bailrigg
• Royal Ordnance Factory, Chorley
• Whitebirk

Greater Merseyside

• Twelve Quays, Birkenhead
• Daresbury Park, Halton
• Ditton, Widnes
• Kings Business Park, Knowsley
• Liverpool Science Park (Edge Lane)
• Liverpool University Edge
• Parkside Former Colliery, St Helens
• The Estuary, Liverpool (Speke/Garston)
• Wirral International Business Park

Objectives and Monitoring

The Agency produces an annual monitoring report to review progress on the sites. Economic target sectors, objectives and visions for individual sites are identified in our Evidence Base and Emerging Issues report.

Link to report in Publications