Freeport will 'unlock Parkside's potential', says council

The Liverpool City Region Freeport is officially open for business after Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove approved its full business case.

READ > Haydock hosts regional freeport's first customs site

Once fully operational, it is estimated that the freeport could create more than 14,000 new highly skilled jobs, deliver £800m of investment and generate an additional £850m of GVA for the Liverpool City Region's economy.

Parkside in Newton-le-Willows is one of the key sites of the Freeport and the status will help further unlock the potential of this site, with it bringing a wealth of additional benefits for businesses setting up there, St Helens Council has said.

An aerial view of the former Parskide Colliery, which is undergoing major industrial development (Image: St Helens Council)

Cllr David Baines, leader of St Helens Borough Council and LCR Freeport board member, said: "We have seen with the example of SSO International how the LCR Freeport has huge potential for businesses across our region and beyond, creating prosperity and tangible benefits for our residents in the form of good quality jobs and the increased opportunities a growing economy brings. 

"We now have a pipeline of 50 companies across the region interested in following SSO International's example, and with Parkside here in St Helens Borough we are working to bring as many of these benefits as possible right here to our doorstep."

Steve Rotheram, metro mayor of the Liverpool City Region said: "Throughout the process, I've been clear that I will only use our freeport as a force for good, to help build an economy that works for everyone in our region. I want to attract investors into our area who believe in, and support, our local ambitions - those who will help us to protect workers' rights and uphold standards, and who want to work with us to deliver regeneration and funding in the areas that need it most.

"The establishment of the Liverpool City Region Freeport has the potential to help our drive to attract international investment, create more well-paid, highly-skilled jobs for local people and build on our existing strengths and promote our international competitiveness. It is estimated that the freeport will add £850m to the local economy and contribute towards our plans to boost research and development and target green technologies to help us reach net zero by 2040 at the latest.

"But, for us, it means much more than that. I want to ensure that there is purpose behind this status that fuels greater social mobility, innovation, and inclusion for our whole region - including the integration of our Fair Employment Charter.

"Today, those plans have taken another step forward. I will be pressing for it to be up and running as soon as possible so local people and communities can begin to feel the benefits."

Cllr Janette Williamson, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economy and the Third Sector, said: "The Liverpool City Region Freeport opening for business is tremendous news for our city region.  We have been very clear through this process that we would create a Freeport that helps to benefit everyone in our city region, and that is what we have done.  I'm sure that it will play a key role in driving inclusive economic prosperity across the whole of our area."

Mayor Steve Rotheram and local leaders have said that throughout the entire freeport bidding process that the region is pursuing this "for the opportunities it will bring for regeneration" and building on expanding its capacity in areas such as research and development - and not to pursue "a race to the bottom". 

Tom O'Brien, chair of the Liverpool City Region Freeport, said: "It is fantastic news that the Liverpool City Region Freeport is now open for business.  We've been working extremely hard throughout the development stage to ensure that we could hit the ground running when we reached this stage and I'm sure the Freeport will now deliver tremendous benefits to the city region's economy, creating thousands of high-quality jobs and boosting growth and prosperity."

John Lucy, Director of the Liverpool City Region Freeport, said: "This is a very significant moment for the Liverpool City Region's economy as, after a huge amount of hard work, the Freeport is now up and running.  We can now get on with the real business of creating prosperity for the people of the city region.  I'm sure that the Freeport will be transformational and I can't wait to see it start delivering real benefits."

SSO International in Haydock (Image: Liverpool City Region Combined Authority)

Last month, SSO International in Haydock, became the freeport's first Customs Site Operator (CSO). A freeport customs site operator provides a secure, enclosed customs zone where some normal customs rules do not apply.  Every freeport needs at least one approved CSO to be operational.

The freeport is a designated area covering 45km, where a range of economic incentives will be available, covering customs, business rates, planning, regeneration, innovation and trade and investment support. Local councils will be able to retain 100% of business rates growth generated by the freeport tax sites - located in Wirral, St Helens Borough and Halton.

Centred on a mix of infrastructure including the deep-water container terminal at the Port of Liverpool - the UK's biggest western facing port, which already handles 45 per cent of trade from the US - it is the key coastal access point to the UK's largest concentration of manufacturing.

Targeting key sectors including automotive, biomanufacturing/pharmaceuticals and maritime, the freeport will support and attract new advanced manufacturing, logistics and low carbon energy industries.