£450m AstraZeneca funding shows ‘growing confidence’ in Liverpool
Is the proposed creation of a huge vaccine manufacturing facility in Speke yet more evidence that Liverpool is on the right path?
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said the AstraZeneca deal shows “ongoing confidence in the UK life sciences market”, which the government values at £108bn.
One Liverpool councillor thinks it also demonstrates how far the city has come in recent years.
“The government has a growing confidence in Liverpool and how the city council is being run,” said Cllr Nick Small, cabinet member for growth and economy.
AstraZeneca intends to invest £450m in the city, building a vaccine factory close to its existing Speke site. The pharma giant also said it will spend another £200m to expand its Cambridge Biomedical Campus.
“This is really important to Liverpool and shows Liverpool is amongst the most advanced investment zone propositions in the country,” Small added.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram agreed.
“It is fantastic to see a vote of confidence from AstraZeneca, a global leader in pharmaceuticals, in the work we’re doing building our health and life sciences sector,” he said.
“We’ll continue to nurture our strengths to grow the economy, deliver new investment and jobs for local people and establish ourselves as a global leader.”
The AstraZeneca boost follows the £31m government awarded Liverpool last week to fund a life sciences hub and street market.
These announcements show the city is now reaping the rewards from the private sector and the government and that, after a troubling and tumultuous few years, Liverpool seems to have turned a corner.
Small puts this down to the city council’s efforts, under the leadership of Cllr Liam Robinson, to provide “policy certainty and stability”.
“When I talk to the government and private sector, they want to see people talking up Liverpool’s prospects and see the city council as a professional organisation,” Small said.
“I don’t want to dwell on the past. We are a no fuss, no egos [organisation] and we want to promote the city and city region for the greater good.”
Hope there are no rabbits on the proposed AstraZeneca site, hey Nick?
By Roy
The sad thing is the Tory party are now investing in Liverpool unlike when Labour are in power they don’t but majority of folk in Liverpool will still vote labour because their nan did in 1985.
By Anonymous
Very good news and Yes we can restore confidence in the region again
By Liverpool4Progress
Excellent news for the city and the wider region. Secures and provides additional quality jobs . Should boost confidence and encourage further investment . The city council and combined authority starting to repair the reputation of the civic organisation. Some way to go yet but positive signs
By George
Mr Small saying the right thing at last , but he has been involved previously in blocking proposals that would economically benefit Liverpool, such as the Pall Mall office scheme which we still need . Astra Zeneca is a major statement for Liverpool ,and South Liverpool, so can Avanti trains please hurry up and start running our promised 2nd train per hour to London , which will be stopping at Liverpool South Parkway thus allowing business people quicker access to this area, and enable word to spread that the City has indeed turned the corner.
By Anonymous
Liverpool should aim to compete with some of Birmingham’s business and drag more investment to the north-west, particularly now Birmingham is turning into a London suburb without any character or culture.
By Anonymous
A nice vote of confidence in the city.
By Anonymous