'Good progress is being made' - £69m bid to create 1,000 jobs in East Lancashire

Bosses at the Lancashire Economic Partnership (LEP) have drawn up a £15million bid to the government’s Growth Deal Fund for the north west centre, which would initially focus on machining, automated assembly and additive manufacturing, and form a central part of the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone site.

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In partnership with Lancaster, Central Lancashire and Sheffield universities, the LEP initiative, which is hoped to be a reality by 2018, could provide 180 jobs in the construction phase alone and has been widely welcomed.

The proposal is also said to be at the heart of Lancashire and Sheffield’s successful submission to the government to establish a ‘Northern Powerhouse’ advanced manufacturing corridor.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: “Our figures for manufacturing have been very positive and post-Brexit we want to be one step head in research and development, manufacturing and exports.

“We have already seen the amazing progress made with graphene, in the north west, and 3D printing at BAE in Samlesbury ,so this is just the kind of development which we should be welcoming.”

County Cllr Alan Schofield, who represents Ribble Valley South East division, said: “This is something I would definitely approve of in principle, provided we can address the community and highways implications which may arise.”

He said he had been working closely with his South Ribble colleague, County Cllr Barrie Yates, to introduce weight limits along Branch Road, at Mellor Brook, to prevent heavy goods vehicles using the village as a through route.

Cllr Yates said: “This is welcome news in terms of jobs and prosperity and should be good for the area.”

He is also proposing that the 50mph limit along the A677 should be reduced to 40mph and is looking at extending 30mph zones along the same route.

Board members at the LEP have been told that the centre, ranked as their top priority for the third round of Growth Deal Fund spending, could begin in 2017-18 if funding is secured and could assist nearly 1,800 businesses in its first years, while generating an extra £309million in output across Lancashire by 2030.

Edwin Booth, the LEP’s chairman, said: “Working closely with colleagues at Sheffield University, Lancaster University and UCLan, the LEP has put in a bid to Government for Growth Deal funding for the north west facility of the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

“If this is approved, it would be based at Samlesbury and play a major role in boosting productivity across Lancashire’s advanced engineering and manufacturing sector and linking with other key LEP investments such as UCLan’s Engineering Innovation Centre.”

The enterprise zone, which will see the access road off the A677 officially opened later this month, is already set to be home to the £15.7million BAE Systems’ training academy, including a virtual reality facility, robotics machine and 3D printing equipment.

Sixty-seven apprentices will begin there as part of the first intake, with the chance for members of the outfit’s 10,000 strong workforce to take up courses there eventually.

And defence logistics giants Wincanton are putting the finishing touches to a major centre there which will employ 150 people, working on military air and information business contracts for BAE.

If the Growth Deal Fund sign the £15million LEP bid for the advanced manufacturing research centre, the remainder of the £69milllion would then be found by the other university partners, working with private industry.

Mr Booth added: “Good progress is being made in developing the Samlesbury EZ site as a world-class centre of excellence for aerospace and advanced manufacturing with global inward investment potential.

“We’ve had strong interest regarding investment in the site and are in detailed negotiations with several organisations about setting up there. We hope to be able to announce the first deal by early next year.”