North East Investment Zone

Monday 27th November 2023 Written Statements

[The Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Gareth Davies)]

On Friday, the Government and the forthcoming north-east mayoral combined authority jointly announced that the north-east investment zone will focus on advanced manufacturing and green industries, building on the region’s long-standing sectoral strengths and increasing prominence as an international hub for clean energy. Aligned to the arc of innovation—running from Northumberland down to Sunderland and Durham, with opportunities along the Tyne corridor—the north-east investment zone builds on the trailblazer deal announced for the north-east and will bring benefits to businesses and local communities across the whole of the region.

Furthermore, a new Nissan-led investment worth £2 billion is being made into the north-east to develop two new electric vehicle models. This will create demand for a major expansion in the local electric vehicle supply chain, which the investment zone could support.

Building on the region’s existing strengths, including as a world leader in automotive and advanced manufacturing, electric vehicle production, battery manufacturing, the offshore wind sector and advanced low-carbon materials, together with its strong natural assets and strategic geographic location, the north-east investment zone will bring opportunity into the region through a total funding envelope of £160 million over 10 years, following the extension of the investment zones programme that was confirmed at autumn statement 2023. The investment zone has been developed with strong support from the region’s universities and Catapult centres and is aligned to their existing research and innovation excellence. Local partners expect that the investment zone will help leverage significant private funding, including the £2 billion Nissan-led investment announced on Friday, and help support more than 4,000 jobs over the first five years of the programme.

The Government, the forthcoming north-east mayoral combined authority and other local partners will continue to work together on the investment zone to jointly agree the outstanding elements of the programme, including the breakdown of how the north-east investment zone’s funding envelope will be deployed, with a view to setting out further details in due course.

[HCWS71]