For the last seven years, I along with my colleagues on our local councils have persistently battled to attract more investment to Fleetwood. Despite all the talk from conservatives of ‘levelling up’ we still haven’t been deemed worthy enough for funding.

This week I was asked by Lancashire County Council to back what’s called an ‘Expression of Interest’ in an Investment Zone in Fleetwood.

Plans for around 40 ‘Investment Zones’ across England have been announced by the government. They say Investment Zones aim to ‘drive growth and unlock housing, with sites benefiting from tax incentives, planning liberalisation, and wider support for the local economy’. But so far there’s very little explanation as to what this actually means.

I have backed the council’s request because I want Fleetwood to attract the investment and support that other towns and cities have enjoyed over the last ten years.

However – I do have reservations.

I’ve written to Simon Clarke, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to ask for greater clarification and I’ve posted the letter below.

In particular I’m concerned that these Investment Zones will strip away planning regulations, provide tax breaks for developers and businesses and remove the requirement that developers build affordable housing.

The government has indicated that planning rules would be ‘relaxed’ meaning that in some cases planning permission would not be required at all – and, if it is, it would be “radically streamlined” with reduced consultation, national and local policy requirements relaxed and developer contributions focused on infrastructure. There could also be significant tax benefits for developments in Investment Zones with the possibility of 100 per cent business rates relief and stamp duty relief.

As I’ve said in my letter to Simon Clarke, it is deeply disappointing that authorities have been made to come forward without full details available, nor has the government provided any estimates on how much investment zones could contribute to growth, both locally and nationally.

I have set out a list of questions that need answering before any of us can progress with this proposal – again, these can be seen in the letter below.

I’ll update you when I receive a reply from Mr Clarke.