Businesses in the North West have entered the New Year with increased optimism in their prospects and the wider economic picture, according to the findings of Lloyds Bank’s Business Barometer survey. Published at the end of December 2024, the high street bank found businesses nationwide had … [Read more...]
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Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Warrington councils take first step towards devolution
Leaders of Cheshire and Warrington’s three councils have written to the government asking for the region to be included in its priority programme for devolution. The move is the first step towards formally opening conversations with government about potential new powers and funding Cheshire and … [Read more...]
Manchester Airport ends 2024 with record-breaking December
Manchester Airport recorded its busiest December on record with 2.2 million passengers flying into or out of the North’s global gateway in the final month of 2024. The month smashed the previous record set in December 2023 by 10% with the busiest day coming on Sunday, December 29, when just under … [Read more...]
Cheshire East Council publishes latest financial forecasts
Cheshire East Council's latest financial forecasts show some improvements to position, but outstanding funding gaps persist. As work to prepare the next financial year's Budget continues, the council has revealed it anticipates an £18.3 million funding gap for the current financial year, and … [Read more...]
Christmas sales and footfall data reveal mixed outlook for retail sector in 2025
Retail footfall and sales figures for the December and the festive season have revealed a mixed outlook for the sector for 2025. With household spending continuing to the be squeezed, discount supermarkets Aldi and Lidl have both announced record breaking Christmas performance. Aldi saw a 3.4% … [Read more...]
5.4 million still to file Self Assessment tax returns
HMRC is reminding the 5.4 million Self Assessment taxpayers who have not yet filed a return for the 2023-24 tax year to do so before the 31st January 2025. Anyone required to file a tax return for the 2023 to 2024 tax year who misses the 31 January 2025 deadline could face an initial late filing … [Read more...]
Cheshire and Warrington councils issue joint statement on devolution
The leaders of the three councils covering Cheshire and Warrington have issued a statement indicating their intentions to pursue greater devolution of power to the region. The statement follows publication of the government's English Devolution White Paper, which set out the government's … [Read more...]
Inflation rose to 2.6% in November
Inflation rose to 2.6% in November according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS). The increase of 0.3 percentage points on October’s inflation data means prices in November at their fastest rate since March, with goods on average 2.6% more … [Read more...]
1.1 million passengers set to travel through Manchester Airport during festive fortnight
Manchester Airport is gearing up for 1.1 million passengers to travel through its terminals over the festive season from Friday 20th December 2024 to Friday 3rd January 2025. The most popular destinations over the festive period are set to be Amsterdam, Dublin and Dubai, with Friday 20th December … [Read more...]
Planning process to be overhauled in bid to accelerate housebuilding
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has set out plans to speed up the planning process and overhaul local planning committees as part of measures to accelerate housebuilding and stimulate economic growth. Proposals will allow for applications that comply with local development plans to bypass … [Read more...]
North West hydrogen sector calls for greater focus on storage and transport networks to meet net zero goals
The North West’s emerging hydrogen sector has called for additional input from government to support the low-carbon fuel’s transport and storage to help meet net zero goals. In a report published by the North West Hydrogen Alliance (NWHA), while progress at policy level has been made in … [Read more...]
Record passenger numbers drive positive half-year results for Manchester Airports Group
Record breaking passenger numbers across its three airports have delivered a positive first-half performance Manchester Airports Group (MAG). MAG, which owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands Airports, alongside travel services business CAVU, reported in its interim … [Read more...]