Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry is leading the fight
by a number of core city Chambers to lobby government to begin
piloting promised Accelerated Development Zones (ADZ) in the
region.
ADZs, a revolutionary method of funding investment in major
transport and economic development projects and predicted to create
up to 44,000 new jobs, were announced in the previous government's
budget statement on 24 March.
Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber of
Commerce said: "In the letter we have today written to Danny
Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. We have stated that
at this time of infrastructure deficit, ADZs are the way forward to
support growth and prosperity.
"We are urging the Coalition Government to stick with the pilot
and prepare legislation to allow ADZs to be enacted as part of the
Localism Bill.
"The ADZ concept originates from Chicago, where it has delivered
exciting economic opportunities. At a time when reducing public
capital finance is paramount, access to this mechanism will be a
critical factor in allowing our cities to drive recovery and future
growth."
The core city Chambers include: Birmingham, Liverpool, Greater
Manchester, North East, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, Leeds, York
and North Yorkshire and Sheffield.
Mr. Blackett continued: "If successful, we will be in a position
to drive forward our region's competitiveness and deliver the
massive infrastructure projects which will help underpin the
regional, and national, recovery from the current downturn.
"We believe the £120m ADZ Pilot Programme would be used
for capital grants to help support projects that deliver key
infrastructure and commercial developments to unlock growth.
"ADZs would define areas for development which would attract
business investment."
A number of schemes across the region have already been
earmarked as potential ADZs. These are: Birmingham Eastside;
Birmingham Wholesale Markets/Southern Gateway; Bordesley Park;
Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension Rapid Transit Scheme; City
Centre - Airport Rapid transit Scheme; M6 J10 improvements; M5 J2
improvements; and i54 Wolverhampton.