New £185m Industrial Strategy Zone to Create Thousands of Liverpool Jobs
Liverpool City Region has taken a massive leap toward becoming a global investment powerhouse with the launch of a first-of-its-kind Industrial Strategy Zone (ISZ).
Unveiled just 24 hours after the announcement of a landmark £2bn Investment Fund, the new zone is designed to trigger a wave of private sector investment and create thousands of high-quality jobs across the region.
The ISZ is a “once-in-a-generation” move that merges the city’s existing Life Sciences Innovation Zone and Freeport status into one streamlined package.
Backed by £185m in government funding, the zone offers massive tax breaks and customs benefits to businesses, aiming to de-risk property investments and fast-track major projects in health, maritime, and advanced manufacturing sectors.
A Transformational Moment for Investors
The launch marks a critical turning point for the local economy, providing the region with world-class “levers” to attract international business.
By bringing these programmes under one roof, the City Region is offering investors a streamlined pathway to support their entry and expansion.
Coupled with the new £2bn LCR Investment Fund, the initiative is seen as a major opportunity to accelerate productivity and deliver a more resilient economy for decades to come.
Liverpool is currently one of only three places in the UK to hold both Innovation Zone and Freeport status, handling 45% of all transatlantic trade.
Massive Incentives for Business
The new zone includes six designated “tax sites” where businesses can access incredible financial benefits. These sites include:
- Sci-Tech Daresbury
- Maghull Health Park
- Wirral Waters
- Parkside and St Helens Manufacturing Campus
- 3MG in Halton
Companies relocating to or expanding within these areas can benefit from 100% Business Rate Relief for five years, Stamp Duty exemptions, and significant savings on National Insurance contributions, worth over £6,500 per employee.
Long-Term Funding for the Future
Beyond immediate tax breaks, the ISZ introduces a clever 25-year funding mechanism.
Local councils will be allowed to keep business rates from new properties at these sites, ring-fencing the money specifically to reinvest in future infrastructure and premises.
This strategy is already yielding results, £60m has already been invested in a new link road for the Parkside site in St Helens, and £8.5m is currently unlocking new developments at Wirral Waters.
With the Life Sciences Innovation Zone alone expected to create 8,000 jobs and the Freeport set to add another 14,000, the Industrial Strategy Zone is the “super-connector” intended to ensure Liverpool leads the UK’s new industrial era.
