News story

Northern Futures Summit

Nick Clegg hosted the Northern Futures Summit on 6 November 2014 in Leeds, in partnership with Centre for Cities.

From:: Deputy Prime Minister's Office, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and The Rt Hon Nick Clegg
Published: 5 November 2014
Last updated: 6 November 2014 — See all updates

Nick Clegg launched the Northern Futures call for ideas in July 2014. The online consultation asked the question:

How do we build on the strengths in the north to create an economic core in the heart of the region that can compete with the biggest cities and regions in the world?

Read the Northern Futures draft communiqué setting out the common themes that have emerged.

The summit brought together participants – from those charged with leading northern cities, to the businesses driving their economies, and the young people who will shape them in the future – to discuss a new vision for the north of England.

Read the Deputy Prime Minister’s keynote speech at the summit.

Themes for the summit

Since July we’ve received more than 500 ideas, which fell into common themes, such as transport, skills or tourism. Nine ideas on these themes were pitched at the summit.

Take part: read and rate the 9 ideas selected for the Northern Futures Summit or have your say on Twitter using #NorthernFutures.

Infographic: the open policy-making process for Northern Futures

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Transport links in the north

Nick Clegg announced better trains for nothern cities to end the misery of overcrowding and cut journey times.

More than 25 million people use these cross-Pennine rail routes every year, and over a third of passengers have to stand during their commute. By 2025 the DPM wants to see electrified cross-Pennine links between Liverpool and Manchester on one side and Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle and Hull on the other.

This will shorten journey times to 40 minutes at most between any two of Manchester, Leeds and Sheffield and end the misery of overcrowding when people journey to work.

Read more about transport plans announced at the summit.

Tourism in the north of England

The north boasts stunning countryside, history and culture, but with 29 individual boards all working separately, there is currently no coordinated tourism strategy. To help boost visits to the north, the Deputy Prime Minister today (5 November 2014) announced Regional Growth Funding of £10 million to back proposals for a clear tourism strategy.

Nick Clegg said:

It’s absurd that our great north is missing out on visitors when it boasts such stunning countryside, history and culture. Through the Northern Futures project, I asked people what our northern cities needed in order to compete globally, and to grow.

Your resounding call is clear – a strong northern future relies on putting the north back on the map: a top tourist destination. From next year, there will be a clear strategy for tourism in the north, bringing harmony to the current offer from 29 individual tourism boards into one great offer.