Prime Minister confirms cash boost for Northern Powerhouse

The Prime Minister has confirmed further investment for the Northern Powerhouse, in addition to a landmark devolution deal for the North East.

At a Cabinet meeting held in Gateshead, Theresa May outlined delivery of the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy and emphasised the integral role Local Enterprise Partnerships play in boosting economic prosperity across the Northern Powerhouse.

Talks then turned towards the government’s North Eastern transport infrastructure agenda. According to the Prime Minister, up to £780 million will be spent over the next decade to overhaul the East Coast Main Line. New platforms will be built alongside a raft of track, signaling and junction improvements along the route.

This, in addition to a new fleet of Intercity Express trains, will mean that passengers travelling long distance between northern towns and cities will benefit from more seating and faster, more frequent journeys between Doncaster, Leeds and Newcastle.

The Prime Minister also confirmed that the government would lay the legislation to formally conclude the North of Tyne Devolution Deal with Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside. The landmark deal, which represents an unprecedented transfer of powers from central government to local people in the North of Tyne, is worth £600 million over 30 years and is expected to generate 10,000 new jobs throughout the region.

“Making Britain a country that works for everyone, in urban and rural regions, is a priority for my government – and a thriving economy across the Northern Powerhouse is central to that,” said the Prime Minister.

“We have set out major policies and investments as part of our Modern Industrial Strategy to unlock the potential in the North – and more than any government in history, we are making sure that we are delivering the outcomes that really matter to people who live and work here.”

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