By Salma El-Sakka
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has unveiled a £700 million package aimed at driving reindustrialisation across the United Kingdom, marking the latest step in the government’s devolution agenda.
Strategic Sites Accelerator to Unlock Investment
The Strategic Sites Accelerator will deploy the £700 million alongside expert support in planning, grid connections, and access to finance. The programme targets up to 10 commercially viable industrial and commercial sites, with the goal of attracting up to £2 billion in private investment and supporting tens of thousands of jobs over time. Initial engagement is already underway on potential sites in Glasgow, Burgess Hill, and Sheffield, with further opportunities identified in regions including Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, the West Midlands, and the Glasgow City Region.
Chancellor and Business Secretary Back the Plan
Chancellor John Healey said the scheme will “break down barriers to local growth,” emphasizing that local leaders know their communities best. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds added that the programme will “get the ball rolling for up to 10 of the UK’s most important potential sites,” addressing outdated infrastructure, financing gaps, and planning obstacles that have historically blocked investment.
Devolution Drive Advances with New Mayoral Authorities
The announcement accompanies progress on ten new devolution agreements in their final stages, which will establish new mayoral authorities in areas such as Devon, Plymouth and Torbay; Hertfordshire; Lancashire; Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland; Stoke and Staffordshire; Surrey; Thames Valley; and Wessex. Kent and Medway, and Cornwall will adopt slightly different devolution models under the proposals.
Income Tax Sharing from 2028
Central to the reforms is a plan to give most mayoralties a share of income tax generated in their regions. From April 2028, authorities with directly elected mayors will receive a uniform rate of local basic-rate income tax revenue to fund local infrastructure, transport, and housing, though mayors will not set tax rates or bands.
