March 10, 2023 9.00 am This story is over 24 months old

Questions over Lincolnshire investment zones amid government ‘backtrack’

It ‘shows the need for devolution’
Lincolnshire County Council economy portfolio holder Councillor Colin Davie. | Image: Daniel Jaines

Lincolnshire County Council’s economy chief has said a potential backtrack on “investment zones” highlights again the need for devolution.

The Financial Times this week reported that UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was planning to scale back the previous administrations  for hundreds of low-tax, low-regulation sites across the UK in budget announcements next week.

Lincolnshire County Council put forward expressions of interest for two sites in October, including the UK Food Valley across Spalding and Holbeach and a further zone covering Spitalgate, Grantham.

The FT’s article suggested that despite former PM Liz Truss’ hope to create 200 zones in a bid to tackle regional inequalities, Mr Hunt could approve as few as 10.

Lincolnshire County Council’s portfolio holder for environment and economy Councillor Colin Davie admitted the news indicated that plans had been watered down.

“It’s disappointing that local authorities across the country who did so much work bringing forward these proposals are, in the main, going to be disappointed by government’s decision-making,” he said.

“For Lincolnshire, we continue to engage with the government on the huge opportunity of the Holbeach Spalding proposals and the world class research and development headed by the University of Lincoln that’s coming from this location.

“We will continue to make the case to Government for why they should invest in places like this and in Lincolnshire generally.

“For me it outlines yet again the need for a Greater Lincolnshire devolution deal with government so we can make a local determination on what’s best to grow our own economy and our communities.”

The FT piece suggests investment zones will be “linked to areas with a strong focus on research and development”.

The plans originally predicted to cost around £12billion a year nationally in lost tax revenues and it is thought the scaling back will cut those costs to a “much more constrained budget”.

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