New Investment Strategy to deliver long-term growth, jobs and higher living standards in Liverpool City Region

• More joined up approach with greater emphasis on strategic investments
• Targeted support to address issues holding back growth
• Investments to unlock billions of pounds in private and institutional capital
• Deliver tens of thousands of jobs
• Operate alongside new £2bn Investment Fund to deliver 10-year Local Growth Plan ambitions
• Make money work harder to benefit businesses, communities and residents

A new Liverpool City Region Investment Strategy was launched today (TUES) that prioritises long-term growth, job creation and raising living standards.

Unveiled at UKREiiF, the strategy will guide how the City Region’s new £2bn Investment Fund is deployed, with the Combined Authority moving from a fragmented, grant-based approach to a new joined-up finance-led strategic investment model as it delivers its ambitious 10-year Local Growth Plan.

It will focus on how investments work together to raise the City Region’s £43.3bn economy by £10bn over the next decade and create tens of thousands of jobs.

And through a greater emphasis on strategic investments that support delivery of a 10-year pipeline of opportunities across the City Region, it will provide investors with long-term certainty, helping unlock billions of pounds of private and institutional capital.

The strategy will target investments that raise productivity, remove barriers holding back growth and deliver lasting impact.

A wide range of funding tools will be deployed – including loans, equity and recyclable investment – ensuring public funding works harder, is reinvested over time, and delivers long-term value for communities and investors.

And by making clear choices to boost productivity and with a strong focus on inclusive growth and social value, the new strategy aims to deliver well-paid jobs and higher living standards across the City Region – delivering healthier communities and improved public spaces.

Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said:

“This strategy marks the next stage of devolution for the Liverpool City Region. For too long, funding has been too short-term, too fragmented and too often decided somewhere else. Now we’re moving to a much more joined-up, long-term approach, using the powers we’ve fought for to become a strategic investor in our own future.

“Through our new £2bn Investment Fund, we can make public money work harder to unlock bigger opportunities, attract private investment and back the projects that will make the greatest difference to people’s lives – creating better jobs, stronger communities and raising living standards right across our region.”

The new strategy will de-risk investments by working at pace and providing clarity and certainty on project and pipeline details. This will include effective project sequencing, accelerating site readiness and driving early enabling works.

The strategy sets out a commitment to bring together public funding with institutional capital – including local pension fund investment – alongside engagement with partners such as the British Business Bank and National Wealth Fund to maximise impact and accelerate delivery.

And it will also see the Combined Authority working with Homes England and MHCLG to deliver housing at scale and support construction of affordable and social housing.

It also outlines how the Combined Authority will work with partners and the private sector to explore establishing an LCR Regeneration and Development Academy to attract, retain and develop local talent.

Through targeted investments such as creating more high-quality offices and lab space, it will give businesses more room to grow. And it will prioritise investments in tailored business and innovation support.

Taken as a whole, the new strategy will make Combined Authority money work harder – benefiting businesses, communities and residents. It will give investors certainty, scale and investible propositions while giving businesses space, skills, infrastructure and investment to grow, and giving residents better jobs, better places and better outcomes.

Read the full Investment Strategy here.