1.4 Our Economy

1.4.1 Lancashire in a Regional Economic Context

Lancashire is an integral part of the Northwest Region. The physical, economic and social relationships are fundamental to an understanding of the role of transport in Lancashire. In the same way, at a policy level Regional Strategies provide the context for the preparation of  this Local Transport Plan.

Our objectives, policies and programmes reflect the proposals for the eight city regions set out in the Northern Way, the Government's strategy to deliver the vision of the North in 2025. In its Business Plan 2005-08, the Northern Way Growth Strategy sets out eight Priorities for Action in the Central Lancashire City Region.

The transport priorities set out in the Regional Funding Allocation process reinforce the prioritisation of schemes in Regional Spatial Strategy. This has been developed in the context of the Regional Economic Performance Public Service Agreement and the Northern Way Growth Strategy. The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy for the Northwest was submitted to the Minister in January 2006. Public consultation on it is due to start in March 2006.

The Draft Regional Spatial Strategy incorporates the Regional Transport Strategy and is fully aligned with the Regional Housing and Economic Strategies. Our policies and schemes have been appraised against the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy and the complementary Regional Economic Strategy. This has, in particular, influenced the approach taken to Major Scheme selection and the contribution of Local Transport Plan to economic growth and regeneration in Lancashire.

1.4.2 Regional Economic Strategy RES

The preparation of the Northwest Regional Economic Strategy has been led by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA). The Draft RES has now been submitted to Ministers. Following endorsement by Government, the final RES will be launched in the Spring 2006.

The Vision of the RES is;

A dynamic, sustainable international economy which competes on the basis of knowledge, advanced technology and an excellent quality of life for all.

It identifies three major drivers of the economy which are;

• improving productivity and growing the market
• conditions for sustainable growth
• growing the size and capability of the workforce.

Transport is one of the factors that will particularly influence the achievement of sustainable growth. The three major elements are;

• improve the road and rail infrastructure and manage it better
• develop airports and ports
• link areas of opportunity and need.

The remainder of the 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 that will move the Region towards the Vision. Forty five of these are defined as Transformational Actions that are fundamental to achieving regarded as top priority for partners to deliver.

Within Lancashire, the main issues in LTP2 to 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, through the East Lancashire Rapid Transit and Accessibility Planning, for example.
• recognising the importance of a co-ordinated approach to transport in key City and Town Centres, such as the 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-Fleetwood tramway, Lancaster City Centre Air Quality Zone and the Rights of Way Improvement Plan.

The table in Appendix B sets out the Actions that LTP2 can contribute to delivering improvements under the relevant draft RES chapter headings. Transformational Actions are marked in bold.

In additional this LTP demonstrates how we have developed a programme to address the impacts of economic development sites and how each district contains details plans of how we will support our economic growth as sustainably as possible. (refer to Chapter 4)

1.4.3 Strategic Regional Sites

Four Strategic Regional Sites are identified in Lancashire  in the Draft RES and Draft RSS;

1. Royal Ordnance Factory (Buckshaw) in Chorley
2. Cuerden Business Park in South Ribble
3. Whitebirk in Hyndburn
4. Bailrigg beside Lancaster University, also recognised as a Knowledge Nucleus.

In addition, the Draft RSS recognises Central Preston, based on the University, as a Knowledge Nucleus, whilst Blackpool is the priority site for a Regional Casino. The County Council will work with the developers of each of these sites to identify the required transport infrastructure and identify a comprehensive approach to accessibility.

This LTP contains plans which address each of these sites within the context of the Districts in which the sites are placed. These plans are contained in Chapter 4.

1.4.4 North West Ports Study

The NWDA sponsored "North West Ports Study" was published in October 2005. This identified the current and projected port roles played by Heysham, Fleetwood and Glasson Dock. The importance of Heysham as a regional and national port for Irish Sea traffic was drawn out. Enhanced transport infrastructure through the Heysham-M6 is identified as particularly important.

1.4.5 Other Key Development Sites

The Joint Lancashire Structure Plan also identifies 103ha of land at Fleetwood Docks-North East Thornton for employment and housing purposes. There are also important development sites at Blackpool Airport and Whittingham, north of Preston. This LTP supports such developments with individual plans which can be seen in Chapter 4.

1.4.6 Promoting Tourism

Tourism is an important industry in the Northwest and sustainable tourism is increasingly important to the rural economy. The new walking, cycling and riding routes in Lancashire are major attractions for visitors. The Pennine Bridleway and Mary Towneley Loop have received national attention. The Rights of Way Improvement Plan prioritises the extension and improvement of the bridleway network to provide multi-user routes that will make Lancashire even more attractive as a destination for tourism and leisure.