Strategic Investment Areas
Between 2000 and 2006, the European Union gave money to Merseyside which - at that time - was deemed to be one of the most deprived areas in Europe. Priority 3 of what was known as the "Objective One Programme" looked for ways to help businesses to grow, and the money was to be spent to help create new jobs.
The money was targetted at what were called Strategic Investment Areas (SIAs). Drawn on a map by the various Merseyside Partners who originally applied for the funding, SIAs were areas thought to be capable of supporting new development to provide jobs for local people. Therefore, the areas deliberately chosen were those closest to some of the city's most deprived communities in order to provide real employment prospects for unemployed residents.
There were eight SIAs across Merseyside; five of these were within or partly within Liverpool. These latter five were:
- Approach 580 Gateway - shared with Knowsley MBC
- City Centre
- Eastern Gateway (formerly known as Eastern Approaches)
- International Gateway (formerly known as Speke/Halewood) - shared with Knowsley MBC; and
- Northshore (previously known as Atlantic Gateway) - shared with Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
The European money that Merseyside received has now all been spent, but its legacy remains in the many sites with land cleared and prepared for redevelopment as offices, warehousing and industry.
The SIAs have all seen huge sums spent on infrastructure works and new buildings for offices, warehousing and industry. New jobs have indeed been created, with over 5000 more people working in the International Gateway SIA at the southern end of the city since 2005 as an example.
Development activity is continuing, with new offices and warehousing space completed in all five of the SIAs in recent years.
Liverpool Vision now has responsibility for progressing developments within the SIAs.
Contact us
5th Floor, The Capital, 39 Old Hall Street, Liverpool L3 9PP
Tel: +00 44 (0)151 600 2900
Website: www.liverpoolvision.co.uk
Email: info@liverpoolvision.co.uk