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UK Freeports

Industrial Strategy Zones to play pivotal growth role

The Government has brought the Freeports Programme, alongside Investment Zones, under the new joint banner of Industrial Strategy Zones, reflecting the pivotal role they will play in driving investment in our high-growth sectors and the bolstered support they will receive to do so – as set out in the Industrial Strategy today.

The two programmes have made early strides towards this goal, having already secured £6.4 billion of private investment, much falling in the Industrial Strategy’s priority sectors. But this is just the start: the 22 Industrial Strategy Zones – encompassing Freeports and Investment Zones across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – are expected to generate more than £50 billion of private investment, ensuring we are growing the industries of the future and generating well-paid jobs for communities across the UK.

Also being announced today:

  • The Industrial Strategy Zones Action Plan sets out a blueprint for how we will ensure the zones reach their full potential and drive the change needed in our city regions and clusters. This includes strengthening Mayors’ oversight of Industrial Strategy Zones to ensure they are embedded within an integrated growth strategy for their regions and are fully accountable to the communities they serve. The Action Plan also details how, in collaboration with the Scottish and Welsh governments and the Northern Ireland Executive, we will provide a wide range of additional support from across government to accelerate the delivery of Industrial Strategy Zones.
  • The Freeports Programme Report is also being published on GOV.UK today and outlines the progress of the programme, including the establishment of strong local partnerships, the unlocking and development of strategic sites and the significant investments secured so far.

Some of the notable investments in Freeports and Investment Zones have included:

  • Siemens Gamesa’s £186 million wind turbine factory located in the Humber Freeport.
  • Sumitomo’s decision to invest £350 million in building a subsea cable factory in the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport.
  • Nissan’s direct investment of up to £1.12 billion in the North East England Investment Zone, with further supply chain and infrastructure investments taking the overall investment in Sunderland’s automotive cluster to £2 billion.

The modern Industrial Strategy has set out a new economic approach to backing the UK’s strengths, with ambitious plans for 8 high-growth sectors. More information on the Industrial Strategy can be found here.