Defence capabilities highlighted in £20m cash bid

5 days ago

Paul FaulknerLocal Democracy Reporting Service

News image — Defence giant BAE Systems' sites in Samlesbury and Warton will be referenced in the bid

John S Turner/Geograph A replica of a Lightning fighter jet stands outside the main gate of the BAE Systems manufacturing site at Samlesbury, near Preston. The site is surrounded by fencing with barbed wire at the top. Outside, on a grassy bank, is a grey, vertical, rectangular block sign saying BAE Systems and Samlesbury. — Defence giant BAE Systems' sites in Samlesbury and Warton will be referenced in the bid

A county is capitalising on its defence capabilities in a bid for up to £20m of government funding.

The proposal for a share of the Local Innovation Partnership Fund will highlight Lancashire's strengths as an area for industries focused on security and "critical national infrastructure".

It will also cite opportunities in advanced manufacturing, engineering and cyber resilience.

Defence giant BAE Systems' Samlesbury and Warton sites will be presented as centres for advanced technology and aerospace, with Hillhouse in Thornton-Cleveleys as a cluster for advanced materials, Blackpool for energy and sustainable computing, and Blackburn with Darwen as a leader in manufacturing and cyber skills.

The Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA) devolution body will oversee the process with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the organisation that will decide whether bids from across the country succeed or fail.

It has invited local areas to demonstrate their plans are based on a collaboration between universities, industry and local and national government, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

'Lancashire's strengths'

The LCCA has established a steering group to lead the bid preparation.

It will involve representatives from all five universities connected to the county, major businesses such as BAE Systems, the Westinghouse nuclear power company near Preston, and small and medium sized supply-chain companies.

At a meeting of the LCCA last month, Blackburn with Darwen Council Labour leader Phil Riley said the pitch "plays to Lancashire's strengths" and felt like "exactly the right thing that we should be getting started with".

A total of £500m is available from the fund nationwide, but £360m has already been earmarked as uncontested "direct awards" that will be made to mayor-led combined authorities, leaving areas like Lancashire to make a case for a share of the remaining £140m.

Expressions of interest have to be lodged by mid-February and any completed bids by late June.

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