Appendix B Regional Economic Strategy
The draft Regional Economic Strategy (RES) has been submitted to the Minister and is due to be approved in Spring 2006. The Vision is:"A dynamic, sustainable international economy which competes on the basis of knowledge, advanced technology and an excellent quality of life for all"
Three major drivers are identified which would underpin this vision for the economy. These are:
- Improving productivity and growing the market
- Conditions for Sustainable Growth
- Growing the size and capability of the workforce
Transport is listed as one of the factors that particularly influence achievement of the driver for sustainable growth. Three major elements are identified within transport and can be seen as the headline transport issues that RES is seeking to address and which should feed through to Local Transport Plans;
- improve and better manage the road and rail infrastructure
- develop airports and ports
- link areas of opportunity and need.
The remainder of draft RES is divided into five themed chapters covering Business, Skills and Education, People and Jobs, Infrastructure and Quality of Life. Within these chapters, 122 actions are identified, which when progressed, will enable the Region to move towards achieving the Vision. Forty five of these are defined as 'Transformational Actions' that are regarded as top priority for partners to deliver.
Within Lancashire the main issues reflected that LTP2 seeks to address that will facilitate economic growth are;
- improved connections, particularly by public transport, to the neighbouring City Regions of Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool
- enhanced access to the regions ports, in particular Heysham through the Heysham-M6 link
- improved internal accessibility to key employment locations, e.g. through East Lancashire Rapid Transit and Accessibility Planning
- recognising the importance of a co-ordinated approach to transport in key city and town centres, such as through Preston City Centre Access Strategy
- facilitating the development of Strategic Employment Sites and key growth sectors such as Aerospace particularly through local highway improvements and Travel Planning
- Enabling tourism related economic development, especially in Blackpool, Lancaster and rural areas, through a variety of projects such as the Blackpool Tram, Lancaster City Centre Access Strategy and the Rights of Way Improvement Plan
LTP2 seeks to contribute, in particular, to the achievement of the Transformational Actions identified in RES that are relevant to Lancashire and fundamental to achieving regional prosperity.
The table below sets out the Actions that LTP2 can contribute to delivering identified under the relevant draft RES chapter headings. Transformational Actions are marked in bold. The primary means through which LTP2 contributes to achievement of these Priorities is set out below:Table B1 Regional Economic Strategy Actions
| RES Action | LTP2 Consideration |
|
Business
Transformational Action 16: Develop major research concentrations and knowledge nuclei including Lancaster Infolab21 Action 21: Encourage homeworking and mobile working via ICT usage |
Travel Planning and Accessibility Planning, Quality Bus Routes, Heysham-M6 link Travel Planning and Accessibility Planning Initiatives, ICT access to information |
|
Skills and Education
Transformational Action 26: Develop basic skills for those without education, especially in Blackpool Transformational Action 28: Develop skills to maximise economic impact of key growth opportunities, including ports/airports and Strategic Employment Sites Transformational Action 38: Develop Higher Education opportunities in East Lancashire |
Accessibility Planning, Travel Planning, Demand Responsive transport, Quality Bus routes, ICT access to information, Discounted ticketing, Accessibility Planning, Travel Planning, Demand Responsive transport, Quality Bus routes, ICT access to information, Discounted ticketing, Airport and Port Access Strategies Accessibility Planning, Travel Planning, Demand Responsive transport, Quality Bus routes, ICT access to information, Discounted ticketing, |
|
People and Jobs
Transformational Action 43: Support peoples prospects of getting a job, especially in Housing Market Renewal Areas and URC area (Blackpool) Transformational Action 47: Develop and implement an integrated Economic Plan for East Lancashire, including improved accessibility to Preston and Manchester Transformational Action 48: Implement the Blackpool Masterplan Transformational Action 54: Capitalise on strengths of Manchester, Preston and Liverpool as key drivers for city regional growth Transformational Action 55: Capitalise on private sector investment around Lancaster Transformational Action 56: Secure ongoing growth of rural economy Action 59: Promote access to sport and physical activity to improve health, employee fitness and increase productivity |
Accessibility Planning, ICT Access to information, Demand Responsive transport, Quality Bus Routes and discounted ticketing especially in East Lancashire East Lancashire Rapid Transit, Bus improvements on X43/X1 corridor to Manchester, Rail improvements on Leeds-Blackpool Rail Corridor through East Lancashire, Clitheroe-Blackburn-Manchester rail improvements, Community Rail partnership, Town Centre Access improvements especially in Burnley and Preston, New transport interchanges at Accrington, Nelson and Rawtenstall, Accessibility Planning and Travel Plans Blackpool Tram, Fylde Coast Transport Strategy, Airport Surface Access Strategy, Quality Bus Routes, Community Rail Strategy, Interchange at Preston Station Preston Access Strategy, CiVITAS, Preston Bus Station, Preston Station Interchange, Park and Ride Strategy, Enhancements to Blackpool-Leeds via Preston Rail route, Rail and bus enhancements on key routes to Manchester and Liverpool Heysham-M6 link, Lancaster Access Strategy, National Cycle Demonstration project, Workplace Travel Plans Rural Bus network, Demand Responsive Transport, ROWIP RoWIP, National Cycle network and local cycle improvements, local safety schemes, Travel Planning |
|
Infrastructure
Transformational Action 66: Reduce levels of congestion by increasing use of public transport and reducing peak traffic volumes Action 69: Enhance public transport services between Liverpool/Manchester/Central Lancashire/Leeds/Sheffield Action 70: Upgrade West Coast Main Line Action 71: High Speed Rail Line to London from North West Action 74: Grow Blackpool Airport as set out in Air Transport White Paper Action 75: Support development of more international business and inbound tourism through Regions airports Action 76: Grow the port of Heysham in particular delivering transport links (Heysham-M6 link) Action 78: Secure improved public transport links between East Lancashire and employment growth potential in Manchester and Preston Action 79: Develop innovative transport solutions to link people and jobs Transformational Action 80: Deliver designated strategic regional sites, knowledge nuclei or intermodal freight terminals Action 84: Develop new uses for brownfield land - including housing and strategic greenspace |
Heysham-M6 link and associated reductions in traffic in Lancaster, related to Access Strategy, Preston Access Strategy and TIF submission, Burnley Access Strategy, East Lancashire Rapid Transit, Blackpool Tram, Rail and Bus Strategy Initiatives, Traffic Management Strategy Improvements on Leeds-Blackpool corridor; work with Blackburn on improvements to Clitheroe-Blackburn-Manchester corridor; Work with Merseytravel on possible Burscough curves; Quality Buss corridor improvements, e.g. East Lancashire to Manchester, Preston to Wigan Liaise with Network Rail especially regarding Preston Station enhancements Liaise with promoters Blackpool Airport Surface Access Strategy, Quality Bus Corridor, Community Rail Partnership, Blackpool Tram, Traffic Management Strategy As Action 74 plus ICT Information Strategy Heysham-M6 link, rail freight improvements, Surface Access Strategy, Traffic Management Strategy, Parking for HGVs East Lancashire Rapid Transit, Bus improvements on X43/X1 corridor to Manchester, Rail improvements on Leeds-Blackpool Rail Corridor through East Lancashire, Clitheroe-Blackburn-Manchester rail improvements, Community Rail partnership, Town Centre Access improvements especially in Burnley and Preston, New transport interchanges at Accrington, Nelson and Rawtenstall, Accessibility Planning and Travel Plans Accessibility Planning, Demand Responsive transport, Community Transport and Community Cars, ICT Information Strategy Local highway improvements, accessibility and travel planning, traffic management strategy, public transport enhancements Cycle and walking routes delivered through Remade, RoWIP, local cycle and walking initiatives |
|
Quality of Life
Action 102: Capitalise on strengths and key assets of Southport as a "Classic resort" Action 104: Develop and implement a Visitor Information Action 106: Support cleaner, safer and greener communities including support for Masterplans Action 110: Utilise Local Area Agreements to deliver improved access to high quality public services Action 112: Deliver Investment for Health Strategic Plan with a focus on tackling Health Inequalities Transformational Action 113: Develop the economic benefit of the regions natural environment through better alignment of environmental activities and economic gain Action 115: Deliver sustainable growth through use of the region's heritage environments and assets, including Lancaster Action 116: Create and manage the following Regional Parks including:
Transformational Action 119: Invest in quality public realm, green space and environmental quality especially in the following locations:
Action 121: "Future proof" physical development projects to meet needs of future generations |
West Lancashire Community Rail Partnership, Park and Ride Strategy, Burscough Curves, Route Management Strategies for A59 and A570, Development work on Ormskirk Bypass Public transport information and marketing, including ICT, Blackpool Airport Surface Access Strategy Public Realm improvements, Town Centre Access Strategies, Local Safety improvements, RoWIP Contribution to Lancashire CC Comprehensive Performance Appraisal and Locality Accessibility Planning, Travel Planning, Demand Responsive Transport, Community Transport and Community Cars RoWIP, Quiet Lanes and Greenways, national and local cycle network initiatives, long distance footpaths and bridleways, Bus Strategy especially in rural areas Heysham-M6 link, Lancaster Access Strategy, National Cycle Demonstration project, public realm improvements, Park and Ride Strategy RoWIP, Long Distance Footpaths, National and local cycle schemes, Community Rail Partnerships, Bus Strategy, especially demand responsive provision, Quiet Lanes and Greenways, local safety initiatives Public realm improvements, Preston City Centre Access Strategy, Local Safety improvements, RoWIP, Conservation Area schemes Incorporating sustainable development principles in the design of new schemes |