Council Supports Regional Economy Growth Proposal

An ambitious proposal to grow the North Wales regional economy has been formally supported by Denbighshire County Council’s Cabinet, meeting in Ruthin today (Tuesday). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Growth Vision for the Economy of North Wales, if supported by all six North Wales authorities, will be used as a basis for negotiations by the North wales Economic Ambition Board with the UK and Welsh Governments over a growth deal bid for the region. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Vision sets out a clear ambition for North Wales, especially in relation to infrastructure development, skills and employment and business growth. If business is secured to deliver the action plan of projects, the region will experience sustainable economic growth and the value of the North Wales economy will grow from £12.8 billion in 2015 to £20 billion by 2035. Such growth rate will generate at least an additional 120,000 new employment opportunities. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Extensive consultation has already taken place in preparing this Vision with a wide variety of organisation in the higher education, business and enterprise sectors and governments, with significant support also being received from the private sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans OBE, said: “Developing the local economy is a priority within the Council’s current corporate plan and a lot of work is going on locally in Denbighshire to promote the county as a great place for business investment and job creation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We also recognise the need to strengthen the regional economy of North Wales. Extensive collaboration already takes place and we believe that establishing a Vision for economic growth for North Wales is a fundamental way forward and developing a formal Growth Deal bid may be one route to achieving the regional growth vision”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

If the Vision is approved regionally, the intention is to hold discussions and negotiations with the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Wales Office and Welsh Government, especially in relation to a potential investment programme to deliver the action plan of projects. It is also intended to hold discussions about a possible “Growth Deal” for North Wales. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​