Western Gateway “key to levelling up communities across the union”
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up has heralded the importance of the Western Gateway partnership at first conference.
The Secretary of State for Levelling Up has heralded the importance of the Western Gateway partnership for South Wales and Western England at the launch of a new agenda for the partnership.
The partnership's new agenda includes creating a further £34bn for the economy and the UK’s first Green Energy Super Cluster. It also includes details around the partnership’s bid to become home to the country’s first fusion plant at Severn Edge and plans to look at harnessing the tidal energy of the Severn.
The Western Gateway, the pan-regional partnership for the area, launched this forward vision at the South Wales and Western England’s first economic powerhouse conference, Green Growth in the Western Gateway (8th March).
The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said: “The Western Gateway provides a unique opportunity to level up communities on both sides of the Severn. Already a powerhouse for cyber and tech, research, engineering and the creative industries, the area has huge potential to create sustainable growth and help power the UK’s ambition to reach net zero.
“This pan-regional partnership between south Wales and western England is a key part of this government’s plans to level up communities across the union. I look forward to working with them to create new opportunities and boost growth across the whole of our nation.”
The conference brought together leaders from across the area to explore how the area can level up communities at risk of being left behind, become the UK’s first green energy super cluster and capitalise on investment in green innovation.
Speakers range from Catherine Lewis La Torre, CEO of the British Business Bank, Simon Gibson CBE, CEO of the Wesley Clover Wales, to Joanna Pontin, Exec Vice President of Communications for DST Innovation, the organisation behind Swansea’s Blue Eden development which includes plans for a tidal lagoon.
Katherine Bennett CBE, Chair of the Western Gateway partnership, said: “I welcome the comments from the Secretary of State. We have an important part to play in levelling up communities from across our geography who are risk of being left behind.
“I am glad that we are able to launch this bold vision today which promises to ensure we are helping to galvanise our potential not just for the 4.4 million people who live but to deliver for the whole of the UK. Together with business, research and our partners, we are ready to work together to level up and power the UK’s transition toward net zero.”