The Great North: UK mayors back £118bn growth vision
Northern England’s metro mayors have launched a new pan-regional partnership to drive investment in infrastructure and development. They unveiled a joint strategy under the Great North banner on 19 May at the UK Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum (UK REiif) in Leeds.
The initiative aims to unlock up to £118 billion in economic value across sectors, including clean energy, defence, advanced manufacturing, and real estate.
Chaired by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, the alliance will coordinate trade missions, host a Northern Investment Summit, and promote investment-ready projects spanning the Pennines to the North Sea. The group has central government support and represents a combined population of more than 15 million across eight mayoralties, with further elections due in Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington in 2026.
The launch coincided with the publication of the North East Investment Prospectus, detailing £14 billion in opportunities across 23 commercial, industrial and residential sites. The portfolio, developed by the North East Combined Authority in collaboration with Arup, the global engineering consultancy, includes over 1.67 million sq m of development space linked to key ports, transport upgrades and industrial corridors.
“We have created a £4.4 billion portfolio of prime development opportunities in our first Investment Prospectus building on our world-class credentials in advanced manufacturing, life sciences, the creative industries and clean energy,” said Kim McGuinness. “That is just the heart of £14 billion of opportunity that runs through our fast-growing cities and exploits our unique location with three major ports on the North Sea coast.”
The prospectus highlights major infrastructure priorities alongside new development zones, including reopening the Leamside Line to strengthen east–west freight and passenger connections and unlock land for development. The Northern Arc and White Rose plans, supported by investment in the Transpennine Route Upgrade and proposed Liverpool–Manchester rail improvements, aim to boost connectivity across the region.
“We are taking action to shift power out of Whitehall and into our communities, giving local leaders the tools they need to realise their areas’ potential,” said Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. “Initiatives like the Great North are critical to this – putting directly elected Mayors front and centre of exciting plans for regional collaboration.”
Other proposals include an “energy coast” along the east of England focused on offshore renewables and hydrogen and a “northern security corridor” spanning Cumbria, Lancashire, and the North East. These corridors would align with defence, cyber, and engineering assets that require modern logistics and industrial infrastructure.
The North East Investment Zone, backed by £160 million in public support, is expected to generate 4,000 jobs over the next ten years. It forms part of a broader strategy to consolidate private and public investment across airport, rail and port infrastructure. The Great North initiative seeks to replace fragmented investment narratives with a unified voice across northern England. By aligning political leadership with site-specific opportunities, the group aims to secure long-term capital and deliver regionally led growth.
