The Chancellor Rachel Reeves has committed to an Investment Zone encompassing Wrexham and Flintshire in North Wales, as she laid out plans for growing the economy across all parts of the United Kingdom.

Reeves lauded the advanced manufacturing capabilities and potential in North Wales and outlined expectations for the Investment Zone to generate £1 billion of investment over the next ten years resulting in up to 6,000 jobs.

This Government will go further and faster to deliver the Government’s Plan for Change mission to kick start economic growth – that includes making the right choices others have ducked in the past.

Having confirmed funding for the Investment Zones programme at the Autumn Budget last year, the Chancellor confirmed that the Zone would focus on advanced manufacturing across Northeast Wales.

The Investment Zone’s interventions will be focused around sites in:

• Deeside and Deeside industrial estate which houses Tata Steel and Toyota;
• Hawarden Airport, where Airbus are based;
• Llay Industrial Estate – which houses a number of key aerospace businesses; and
• Wrexham Industrial Estate – which houses a wide range of advanced manufacturing business, including JCB.

MP for Clwyd East Becky Gittins said:

“Today’s announcement from the Chancellor is fantastic news for the North Wales, which is playing its part in driving growth across the UK economy.

“This investment is a huge vote of confidence for our region – recognising both the current capabilities and the potential for further growth, leading to more jobs for our highly skilled workforce.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said:

“For too long, we have accepted low expectations and accepted decline. We no longer have to do that. We can do so much better.

“Low growth is not our destiny, but growth will not come without a fight.

“With a government willing to take the right decisions now to change our country’s future for the better, that’s what our Plan for Change is all about.”

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens MP said:

“I’m delighted that we are moving forward with the Investment Zone for Wrexham and Flintshire. In December I met leaders from the advanced manufacturing sector at Toyota in Deeside and visited two hugely successful supply chain businesses. I saw the huge potential for growth and for building on the talent and expertise that already exists in this part of Wales.

“This Investment Zone will super-charge economic growth, create up to 6000 new jobs and generate £1bn of private investment which will have a transformational impact for people living and working in northeast Wales.”