UK Regional Investment Summit secures over 10 billion investment

The UK Government announced over 10 billion of investment commitments at the first Regional Investment Summit in Birmingham and nearly 1,000 jobs to be created across UK regions.

• Main announcement: The Summit secured over 10 billion in public and private commitments, pledging nearly 1,000 jobs and targeting growth across life sciences, AI and innovation. Key named commitments include Leeds United: 200 million for Elland Road redevelopment; Woven Capital: up to 300 million to build its European growth capital team in the UK; Hines (with Woodbourne Group): 400 million to support the 4 billion Birmingham Knowledge Quarter; Atos: 10m for AI centres creating 50 jobs; and Freshways: 25 million to build a dairy hub creating at least 200 jobs.
• Background and supporting details: The Crown Estate will acquire Harwell East (221-acre) with a projected Gross Development Value 4.5bn, which the article says could boost UK GDP by 2.5bn, deliver 400 homes and create 24,000–30,000 jobs; the National Wealth Fund: 104 million for wind projects and a Hull heat network; L&G: 2 billion by 2030 for affordable homes; Welltower: US$4bn already committed and plans to treble investment over 5–10 years; Birmingham Airport: 300 million over four years; Knighthead: at least 3 billion for a Sports Quarter. The government also announced regulatory cuts to save nearly 6 billion a year by the end of the Parliament and launched the investor-led Sterling 20 partnership to channel pension and insurer capital into infrastructure and high-growth sectors.