Liverpool City Region Freeport has cleared one of the final hurdles in its development with the announcement of government approval for its outline business case.

The final stage in development is now to submit a full business case later in April.  The Freeport is set to receive funding of £25 million and is aiming to boost the city region’s post-pandemic economic recovery.

The Liverpool City Region will be home to one of just eight Freeports in England. The new Freeports are expected to be hubs of business and enterprise which have the potential to create thousands of jobs, help regenerate communities and establish Britain’s post-Brexit place in the world. The government says that they are central to its levelling up strategy.

Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said:

“Our Freeport will offer lots of opportunities for the Liverpool City Region. It’s my vision to ensure that there is purpose behind that status – that not only drives our economy, but fuels greater social mobility, innovation, and inclusion for our whole region.”

John Lucy, the Liverpool City Region Freeport Director, said:

“We will attract additional trade through the port of Liverpool but the Freeport will bring benefits for the whole of the Liverpool City Region, extending as it does over a large part of our region with a number of sites offering benefits to businesses."