Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has launched a new blueprint for the area’s economic growth setting out how Cheshire and Warrington can double its economy by achieving gross domestic product (GDP) of £50 billion per annum by 2040.

The LEP said Cheshire and Warrington has the second highest level of GVA (gross value added) per head anywhere in England outside of London.

Its refreshed Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) builds on this strength and has been updated to take into account changes since the first SEP was developed in 2014, including Brexit, the Northern Powerhouse, the Government’s Industrial Strategy, confirmation of Crewe as a location for a regional HS2 hub, and the creation of Transport for the North.

Christine Gaskell, chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, said: “We have a strong economy that is outperforming the national average, a highly skilled workforce and unrivalled quality of place.

“The SEP sets out how we can build on these strengths to deliver our bold vision for economic growth and the strategic priorities we need to deliver to reach our target of a GDP of £50 billion per annum by 2040.”

The SEP places considerable emphasis on building on Cheshire and Warrington’s reputation as a great place to live, work and invest in order to attract and retain the people that the area needs to grow its economy.

Its priorities are outlined as:

• Delivering a transport system that allows people to travel around quickly and easily
• Ensuring that schools, colleges and universities equip people with the skills that Cheshire and Warrington needs
• Emphasising the need to build more homes in urban areas close to good transport links
• Creating great town centres, leisure opportunities and green spaces