Local Enterprise Partnership for Cheshire and Warrington

Local Enterprise Partnership for Cheshire and Warrington
Name	Local Enterprise Partnership for Cheshire and Warrington
Abbreviation	Cheshire and Warrington LEP
Formation	2011
Type	Local enterprise partnership
Region served	Cheshire, Warrington, Halton, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East
Headquarters	Chester, Warrington
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	David Meller

Local Enterprise Partnership for Cheshire and Warrington is a regional economic partnership established to coordinate business-led growth, inward investment, skills provision and infrastructure development across Cheshire, Warrington, Halton, Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East. It acts as a strategic body bringing together private sector firms, local authorities and national agencies to influence investment decisions by bodies such as Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, HM Treasury and Homes England. The partnership developed long-term plans aligned with national initiatives including the Northern Powerhouse and interacts with bodies such as Transport for the North and Local Government Association.

History and formation

The partnership emerged in 2011 following the United Kingdom government's initiative to create business-led entities across England, alongside contemporaries like Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Early formation involved board representation from major local firms, local authorities including Warrington Borough Council and Cheshire East Council, and national agencies such as UK Trade & Investment and Skills Funding Agency. Key milestones included the publication of a strategic economic plan, bids for Local Growth Fund allocations and negotiation of a Growth Deal with central government, mirroring similar arrangements secured by Leeds City Region and Sheffield City Region.

Governance and organisational structure

Governance has been organised around a private-sector chaired board with non-executive and executive representation from institutions like University of Chester, Manchester Metropolitan University, and corporate members including firms from the Aerospace sector, Pharmaceutical industry and Logistics sector. The structure included thematic panels for transport, skills, and housing, co-operating with local authority leaders from Halton, Cheshire West and Chester and Cheshire East. Delivery functions were delegated to delivery partners such as Local Authorities in England, enterprise zones, and public bodies including Highways England and Natural England for environmental aspects. Accountability mechanisms referenced frameworks used by National Audit Office and reporting to ministerial departments.

Strategy and priorities

Strategic priorities emphasized advanced manufacturing clusters linked to companies in Aerospace industry, Automotive industry, and Pharmaceutical industry; logistics and distribution leveraging proximity to M6 motorway, Manchester Airport, and the Port of Liverpool; and digital and life sciences innovation connected to research institutions including University of Manchester and Liverpool John Moores University. Skills and apprenticeships were promoted in collaboration with Education and Skills Funding Agency and Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education. Planning priorities aligned with infrastructure schemes such as HS2 debates, regional transport infrastructure investments, and housing delivery programmes coordinated with Homes England.

Programs and projects

Programmatic activity included management of enterprise zones patterned after examples like Tyneside Strategic Economic Plan and investment in priority sites such as chemical and energy clusters near Runcorn and Ellesmere Port. Major initiatives involved grant schemes for small and medium-sized enterprises comparable to Growth Hubs in other LEP areas, business support linked to British Business Bank instruments, and technology adoption pilots mirroring projects funded by Innovate UK. Skills programmes worked with further education colleges such as Reaseheath College and Warrington Collegiate on apprenticeships and training. Transport-related projects partnered with Highways England and Network Rail to address capacity constraints on corridors connecting to Liverpool and Manchester.

Funding and investment

Funding sources combined central government allocations from the Local Growth Fund and Getting Building Fund, private sector contributions, and European funding streams formerly administered through European Regional Development Fund and European Social Fund prior to the UK’s departure from the EU. The partnership negotiated growth deals to secure capital for infrastructure and site remediation, and sought inward investment through UK Trade bodies and collaborations with local enterprise zones to attract companies from sectors represented by Unilever, Siemens, and multinational logistics operators. Financial oversight referenced best practice from Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy frameworks.

Economic impact and performance

Evaluations credited the partnership with supporting job creation in manufacturing, logistics and professional services, and with accelerating development on designated employment sites resulting in increased business rates and private investment, similar to outcomes reported by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority and Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership. Performance metrics included jobs created, floorspace developed, and private sector leverage per pound of public investment. Collaboration with universities and research councils bolstered innovation outputs and patent activity comparable to regional innovation systems seen in Milton Keynes and Cambridge.

Criticisms and controversies

Critics raised concerns echoing debates seen in areas such as Greater Cambridge and West Midlands Combined Authority about transparency of board appointments, allocation of growth funding, and the balance between business interests and local authority priorities. Controversies included disputes over prioritisation of large site remediation projects versus small business support, and scrutiny over the effectiveness of some grant programmes relative to expenditure, with calls for greater audit scrutiny akin to cases handled by the National Audit Office. Environmental campaigners referenced tensions between development schemes and conservation areas managed by Natural England and local heritage bodies.

Category:Local enterprise partnerships