Western Gateway

📣 Today, we're in London at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) with the Severn Estuary Commission as they present their final recommendations to the UK Government.   Having been in the Senedd speaking with Welsh politician yesterday, this morning we met with members of parliament in the House of Commons at an event sponsored by Lord Davies of Gower.   This afternoon, in partnership with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), we are holding our official launch event, presenting our findings to a packed room of experts at One Great George Street.   With UK electricity demand set to more than double by 2050, the commission have called for urgent investment to make sure tidal energy can play a part in the future energy system in a way which is sustainable. It is clear - the time to act is now to ensure we can harness the incredible power of the Severn Estuary.   The commission have now handed these recommendations to the 28 local authorities who make up the Western Gateway Partnership. They will be looking to work with both UK and Welsh Government to support clean energy production, energy security and boost industry by delivering on this opportunity. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e5VSVqsW

The time to harness renewable energy from the UK’s highest tidal range is now. Ahead of our launch tomorrow (19th), the Chair of the Severn Estuary Commission, Dr Andrew Garrad CBE, spoke to The Times to discuss how their work over the last year has informed their final recommendations. With one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, the Severn Estuary has long been considered as a potential source of predictable energy. With electricity demand set to more than double by 2050 there is a huge need to find reliable, local energy supply to support the UK's ongoing energy transition. Started by the Western Gateway in 2024, the Severn Estuary Commission will be travelling to London tomorrow to launch their recommendations at an event with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).   https://lnkd.in/e6vvZNFn

Delighted that our Chair Sarah Williams-Gardener will be delivering a keynote address at the Railway Industry Association Innovation Conference on Day 2. Come and hear about the Western Gateway Rail Deal launched only 5 weeks ago in Cardiff. So much to shout about since the launch. 📣 Cardiff Parkway Planning Permission ☑️ 📣 Portishead Line Funding Secured ☑️ 📣 Publication of a supportive Early Day Motion from Catherine Fookes MP - https://lnkd.in/eusRkhV2 ☑️ 📣 Western Gateway All Party Parliamentary Group Rail Roundtable scheduled ☑️ We'll see you in Newport! RIA Wales & Western Phil Harrison Transport for Wales Western Gateway STB West of England Mayoral Combined Authority Great Western Railway (GWR)

Were delighted to be back at UKREiiF for 2025, alongside our partners Cardiff Capital Region and West of England Mayoral Combined Authority! We're bringing together local leaders, business and academia to highlight key investment opportunities across South Wales and Western England and drive investment into our area. With our area predicted to be the fastest growing economy outside of London over the next five years, we have a huge opportunity for growth. 📈 Come and find us at the Western Gateway Pavilion!

Local MPs, Dr Simon Opher, MP for Stroud, and Claire Young, MP for Thornbury & Yate, visited part of the Severn Edge Low Carbon Energy Park last Friday in anticipation of the area becoming a major new nuclear hub. The Western Gateway has been leading a collaboration of local authorities, universities and businesses to bring a new future to two decommissioning Nuclear Power Stations in Oldbury and Berkeley to create new jobs and skills for the area. Last year, the sites together received over £100m of investment, with UK Government’s Great British Nuclear acquiring the Oldbury site and a consortium of Chiltern Vital Group, Rolls-Royce SMR and University of Bristol buying the land in Berkeley. Sarah Williams-Gardener, Chair of the Western Gateway, said: “I am in no doubt that only a pan-regional body like the Western Gateway could have so successfully convened so many partners behind the new nuclear opportunity at Severn Edge. To have the MPs here with the UK Government’s delivery body Great British Nuclear and alongside an incredibly ambitious and energy-specialist development consortium at Berkeley is both exciting and inspiring. "The Prime Minister has set out an ambition to simplify planning and deliver at pace and our collective message is that Oldbury and Berkeley are ready to go.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ew_DzM2s

We are the pan-regional partnership for South Wales and Western England. Stretching from St Davids in Pembrokeshire to Swindon we bring together business, local leaders and academia to grow the UK’s future economy! 📈   We have highly-skilled people, natural resources, innovative sectors and a committed partnership focussed on making the most of our assets.   The Government recently announced a minded-to decision to cease funding for pan-regional partnerships across the country. Following a UK Government consultation which closed on the 16th of December, we are still waiting on a decision to be made.   Already the Western Gateway has attracted over £100m investment from the public and private sector - making the area a world leader in developing low carbon energy, launched an independent commission to explore tidal energy in the Severn Estuary and launched a cross-border Rail Deal to improve connections across South Wales and Western England.   Together, we’ve already made a huge impact, and we’re just getting started! The future of the UK economy is here and we won’t stop pushing for investment, infrastructure, and opportunities for our region! 👉 Read how over 100 organisations have supported us during this consultation: https://lnkd.in/eq_nQ9Sb

Over 100 businesses from a range of different sectors, alongside universities, local authorities and other public sector organisations have stepped forward to voice their support for the Western Gateway and our potential to boost the economy of South Wales and Western England.   Our area has the potential to become the fastest growing economic area outside of London over the next five years, if we can continue to collaborate across borders! 🤝   Following last year’s budget the Government announced its “minded to” decision to withdraw funding from all Pan-Regional Partnerships, including the Western Gateway, following a short four-week consultation which ended on 16th December.   We are currently waiting on a decision from the UK Government, with one expected in the next couple of weeks. 📅     We've been blown away by the number of positive responses from organisations across South Wales and Western England, urging the Government to not withdraw funding, allowing us to continue to collaborate at scale and channel growth in our area.   👉 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eq_nQ9Sb

We're delighted to hear the Chair of Great British Nuclear, Simon Bowen FREng, has highlighted the Western Gateway’s pivotal role in creating the conditions for new nuclear development, siting our work on the Severn Edge project! https://lnkd.in/dpkwQfU8 It’s great to see these remarks from the Chair of GBN, recognising the key role the Western Gateway played in paving the way for this £multi-billion investment in ensuring our area is at the forefront of developing new nuclear technology for the UK. Western Gateway has worked in partnership with local authorities, landowners, and academic institutions to position Severn Edge as a key component of the UK’s nuclear roadmap. Starting as a bid to bring the UK’s first fusion reactor to the area, the Severn Edge low carbon energy park brings together two decommissioning nuclear power stations in Oldbury and Berkeley to create new jobs and skills opportunities building on the area’s energy legacy. By championing nuclear innovation, our region is set to create green jobs, attract investment, and establish itself as a leader in the UK’s clean energy future. ⚡ 👉 Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dsQRfbXz

📣 The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Western Gateway call for ideas! Co-chaired by Labour MP Catherine Fookes and Conservative Peer Lord Davies of Gower, the APPG exists to raise the profile of the Western Gateway economic geography of South Wales and Western England and champion opportunities for the region in Parliament. With the current Labour government’s Mission on Delivering Economic Growth, the APPG is keen to ensure that our region receives its fair share of that investment and growth, and is at the heart of the UK’s future economy!    We need to work collaboratively between academia, businesses and regional, local and national governments, in both Westminster and Cardiff to realise this. That's why we would like to invite submissions of potential future activities for the group to undertake. We are interested to hear your suggestions on the following:  📈 Inward Investment 🚄 Connecting Communities 💡 Supporting Innovation ⚡ Energy Security and Net Zero If you would like to submit a suggestion please visit our website to fill out the form: https://lnkd.in/eYpGkMgn

Delivering on Growth - The Western Gateway Rail Deal On the week that the Chancellor Rt Hon Rachel Reeves, reiterated her commitment to growth, we in the Western Gateway unveiled our transformational plans to improve infrastructure across one of the most productive areas of the UK with our new Rail Deal! Halving journey times and bringing an extra 250,000 people within one-mile access of a local station, our Rail Deal unites our local politicians and transport authorities under one “cross border” plan, which could bring an extra £17bn to the UK economy by 2030. Great for Growth Great for Communities & Commerce Great for the Environment   Read more here https://lnkd.in/edM3Mz28 An important part of our Rail deal is Cardiff Parkway. We were delighted to hear yesterday that Eluned Morgan confirmed she was granting planning permission for this development. This is a significant positive step in improving connectivity for our communities as we saw endorsed by Jo Stevens. Whilst we welcome the Chancellor’s continued focus on growth, it was noticeable that alongside her support for projects, like a new runway for Heathrow, there was a lack of recognition for the potential we have across Wales and the South West. We need all parts of the UK collaborating at scale if we want to truly unlock our growth potential.   The Western Gateway is uniquely placed to deliver this as the only growth focused partnership to bring together two Governments and 28 local authorities. Alongside business and universities across our natural economic geography, our collective mission is to create sustainable economic growth and attract investment. Recent research shows that our area has the potential to be the fastest growing economic area outside of London over the next five years if we can maintain the momentum we’ve created through our partnership.    We’ve been trying to reach Jim McMahon MP as the Minister responsible for Pan-Regional bodies, about his pending decision on whether to cease funding for our partnership at this critical time for our country. Connectivity is the backpack bone, for communities, for commerce and for critical for economic growth.    Rachel Reeves – if you want to see growth, back our Rail Deal and back the Western Gateway today. Thank you to our partners and board members for their continued support of this transformational deal: Clr Huw Thomas Clr Tony Dyer Clr Dimitri Batrouni Cabinet Secratary for Transport & North Wales Ken Skates MS Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government Wales Office/Swyddfa Cymru Great Western Railway (GWR)Transport for Wales Network Rail Western Gateway STB West of England Mayoral Combined Authority CROSS COUNTRY TRAINS LIMITED Arup Hugh James FinTech Wales Nia Watkins CEng FICE Phil Harrison David McCallum Alex Madden Dan Okey Andrew Jenkins Andrew Roberts Mark Barry James Cooke John Wilkinson Mike Griffiths Sion Barry