Infrastructure package for the south-west announced by danny alexander

News story INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE FOR THE SOUTH-WEST ANNOUNCED BY DANNY ALEXANDER South-west infrastructure package will see the government focusing on improving the region’s road, rail and

businesses. This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government Boosting the south west’s infrastructure is a key current and future priority,

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander announced on a visit to the region today (Monday 2 March). The south-west infrastructure package, the first of its kind, will see the

government focusing on improving the region’s road, rail and businesses from the Isles of Scilly to Exeter. These investments will provide a huge boost to the region’s economy: a total of 38

projects, worth nearly £23 billion, are in the south-west infrastructure pipeline – this is equivalent to spending over £4,000 per person. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander

said: > The south-west’s economy is being held back by the region’s poor > infrastructure, which makes it difficult for residents, businesses > and tourists to get around this 

beautiful region. That’s why > I’ve created the south-west infrastructure package, a wide-ranging > plan that covers road, rail and air links throughout the area. > Altogether, 

infrastructure projects worth £23 billion are in the > pipeline for the south-west. >  > I’ve prioritised infrastructure investment in government, > including £2.3 billion for 

flood defences and £15 billion of road > improvements, much of it going to the south-west. That’s because > the only way to guarantee a stronger economy is to invest in > long-term 

infrastructure projects that genuinely create jobs, boost > business and improve quality of life, which all help ensure a fairer > society. Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny

Alexander announced: * the launch of a £5 million business investment fund * £5 million business investment fund for the Heart of the south-west at a business event organised by North Devon+

* businesses across Devon, Plymouth, Torbay and Somerset will be able to apply for grants of between £25,000 and £499,000 through the government’s Regional Growth Fund * Unlocking Business

Investment programme has been specifically designed to help small businesses to grow, creating employment across the region by unlocking investment opportunities and developing new markets *

programme will be delivered as a partnership between North Devon+ and Plymouth University and is supported by the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership * Improving transport

links across the south-west * Chief Secretary prioritised improving air links through the Regional Connectivity Fund, which has invested £2.5m (on top of £300,000 from Cornwall County

Council) to ensure that the Newquay – London Gatwick route can continue to fly. * following this passenger numbers have increased by 30% on this route, with over 17,000 people using it in

the first two months of operation. * government is now working with local partners to investigate the best way to ensure a reliable link between Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, including

if there is a case for direct government support. This could include a ferry, fixed wing planes or a helicopter service * creating a National Infrastructure Plan for Skills * government will

create the first-ever National Infrastructure Plan for Skills to ensure that the UK has the skills it needs to maintain and deliver world-class infrastructure. * improving the North Devon

Link Road * south-west of England will benefit from seven new road schemes worth around £2 billion, creating an estimated 1,300 construction jobs * as part of the south-west infrastructure

package, Danny Alexander is today tasking the local authorities and local enterprise partnership to urgently create a business case for investment in this road * this will ensure that

improvements can form a part of their bid for the next Local Growth Funding round * setting a timetable for south-west rail proposals * government has already announced a South West

Peninsula Task Force to align proposals for strategic and local rail schemes over the next twenty years * today, the Chief Secretary announced that he has asked the Task Force to bring

forward their proposals by June 2016, ensuring they will be ready in time for consideration in the next tranche of strategic rail investment to be announced in July 2017 * one of the

projects they will be looking at is how to improve the Salisbury to Exeter train line * boosting European infrastructure investment As well as securing further government infrastructure

investment in Cornwall, the Chief Secretary is working to ensure that this area benefits generously from EU investment in infrastructure, by: * actively supporting Commissioner Juncker’s

ambitious plan for investment in infrastructure across the EU, which involves a guarantee fund that will seek to leverage over €300 billion in investment across Europe * supporting Cornwall

in their bid to get more independence in how their structural funds programmes are run, to maximise local control * working within the EU to ensure that new structural funds programmes for

the latest seven-year EU budget framework are agreed as soon as possible, and working across government to support the delivery of existing structural funds projects SHARE THIS PAGE The

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