Local enterprise partnership sets out region’s ambitions to Net Zero world leader

Cheshire and Warrington’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has set out its ambitions for the region to become a world leader in net zero carbon energy, innovation and technology.

The announcement comes ahead of the COP26 climate change summit taking place in Glasgow. A poll of businesses in attendance at the LEP’s recent economic summit found that 90% viewed the commitment to reducing CO2 emissions as a business opportunity, and not a risk.

The Cheshire and Warrington sub-region is however home to one of the highest polluting industrial clusters in the country, highlighting the challenges and importance for the local economy in achieving net zero emissions.

Last week it was announced that the low carbon and hydrogen energy project HyNet North West, including the potential for hydrogen production plants at Ellesmere Port, has been selected by the Government as a lead project for investment and could receive major funding. Cheshire and Warrington is also one of the first areas in the country to put together a decarbonisation investment plan, unlocking £1 billion of capital investment.

Cheshire and Warrington LEP Chair, Clare Hayward MBE, DL, said:

We have made huge commitments to hit Net Zero, we have a clear long-term vision and now we need to work together to activate the changes.  We know that each choice we make now will impact people for many generations ahead. Cheshire and Warrington can lead, the businesses in our region can lead and we individually can all lead the change, it is urgent, so we need to be fast, efficient and effective.

“HyNet is a great announcement and very timely. This will enable us to implement some of the critical changes required and builds on the many firsts we have in Cheshire and Warrington, including the North West’s first hydrogen re-fuelling station and the first all-electric vehicle manufacturing plant.

“We have identified a £1billion investment portfolio in the region and through a combination of Private and Government investment we will be able to convert words into action. Working closely with our investors is a critical step on the path to achieving net zero.

“We have the knowledge, we have the expertise and we have the opportunity to drive the journey to net zero.  Our region has already demonstrated that we can be a world leader in zero carbon energy, innovation and technology which will enable us to be able to reach net zero.  We recognise it is a massive challenge and we also recognise that it is a massive opportunity but it is certainly one that we have to grasp.

“We need honest conversations about the challenges and honest conversations about the individual choices we have to make, so let’s work together to make those choices, because it is now that is the critical time.”