£700m scheme aims to unlock industrial investment across the UK

Politics · First reported 2 Nov, 00:06 · Updated 00:22

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Andy Burnham has announced a £700 million Strategic Sites Accelerator, working with regional leaders to support up to 10 industrial and commercial sites. The programme aims to tackle barriers such as planning, grid connections and access to finance, attract up to £2 billion in private investment and support tens of thousands of jobs over time.

The Strategic Sites Accelerator will deploy £700 million to support up to 10 sites, with planning, grid connections, finance and technical support among the proposed measures.
The government says the programme could attract up to £2 billion in private investment and support tens of thousands of jobs over time. Initial discussions include sites in Glasgow, Sheffield and Burgess Hill.
Regional mayors and local leaders are expected to identify opportunities; GB News reports applications remain open until January 19, 2027.

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Key facts

Public package: £700 million.
Sites: Up to 10; GB News says six to 10 nationally significant projects may receive support.
Private investment target: Up to £2 billion.
Potential locations under discussion: Glasgow, Sheffield and Burgess Hill.
Application deadline: January 19, 2027, according to GB News.