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North Wales Economic Ambition Board - Final Growth Deal Report

Published: 09/11/2020

At its next meeting on Thursday 12 November, Flintshire County Council’s Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee will review a report including the key documents required for approval to reach a Final Deal Agreement for the North Wales Growth Deal with the UK Government and Welsh Government. 

The report will then go to Cabinet the following week for formal endorsement. This major recognition of our region by both the UK and Welsh Governments is a significant moment in the history of our region. All six Councils and all Universities and further education colleges in the region are simultaneously reviewing and approving these reports to secure a final deal by the New Year. 

Flintshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Councillor Derek Butler, said: 

"The collaboration between all organisations involved has been a significant and positive regional partnership – the region working together as one. This offers a major investment programme and a real positive impact on our GVA. The Growth Deal on its own cannot address all the challenges facing the North Wales economy, particularly in light of Covid-19. However, such a significant injection of capital investment into the North Wales economy through the Growth Deal will be a boost to the construction and related sectors at a time when there is likely to be spare capacity in the economy." 

In 2016, the North Wales Economic Ambition Board (NWEAB) adopted a Growth Vision for the Economy of North Wales. Based on the Growth Vision Strategy, a Growth Deal was prepared and agreed by all the partners working with both the UK and Welsh Governments and the private sector in October 2018. In November 2019, the NWEAB and the Welsh and UK Governments agreed the Heads of Terms for a Final Deal Agreement to be completed in 2020. 

The North Wales Growth Deal is a portfolio consisting of 5 programmes to be delivered over the next 15 years. It is to be delivered by the Portfolio Management Office on behalf of the NWEAB. The Growth Deal is seeking to deliver a total investment of up to £1.1bn in the North Wales economy (£240m from the Growth Deal), to create 3,400 – 4,200 net additional jobs and generate £2.0 - £2.4b in net additional GVA (gross added value). 

The five programmes include 14 projects, which have been carefully designed and developed with stakeholders to address specific market failures and barriers to economic growth.

The NWEAB is committed to achieving a Final Deal Agreement with both Governments before the end of December 2020.