THE landscape of local economic development is populated with the shadows of failed policies and the bodies of decaying projects.

Successive governments have created and recreated a number of agencies and their initiatives to try and develop a climate for growth. Success has been patchy.

The Public Lecture Series at the University of Chester’s Campus here in Warrington however gained a great insight into creating a winning formula for local economic development this week, through an outstanding presentation by Steve Park, Managing Director of Warrington & Co.

Steve gave a masterful overview of the key objectives, main obstacles and essential solutions for taking a city forward.

Acting as a facilitator between the public and private sector Warrington & Co have been at the forefront of building a strong local economy.

The main highlight of Steve’s talk was the story of turning a disused ex-airfield into a productive logistics, manufacturing and residential area (Omega).

This was stuck for years before simple interventions freed up the blockages preventing progress. There is an old saying that ‘where there is a will, there is a way’.

The will is the ambition of Warrington and the way responsiveness and common sense in dealing with businesses.

  • LAWRENCE Bellamy is associate dean at the University of Chester's Padgate campus and writes a regular column for business.