Peel axes LEP bid plans

Peel Holdings has scrapped its bid to create a new Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).The Trafford-based developer had submitted a formal bid last week, which was designed to progress its £50bn Atlantic Gateway scheme.

The move came as a surprise to the leaders of the ten Greater Manchester councils, as reported by Confidential yesterday, who claimed that there had been ‘no warning or consultation.’ Those councils, as AGMA, had already submitted their collective bid covering Greater Manchester.

Peel have now dropped those plan, however, and will work with AGMA to drive Atlantic Gateway forward. The developer will be part of a special delivery vehicle that works with three LEPS - Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Warrington, and Liverpool – if the government gives the go-ahead later this year.

John Merry, leader of Salford City Council, is reported as saying that Peel ‘recognised very quickly’ that its bid to become an LEP would fail without the backing of local councils.