PHILIP Cox is marking 12 months as head of the Cheshire and Warrington LEP and tells readers what has been achieved.

IN the past 12 months the Cheshire and Warrington economy has experienced dynamic growth and the future certainly looks bright for this high-performing engine within the Northern Powerhouse.

During my first year in post as Chief Executive of the Cheshire and Warrington LEP we have already welcomed a £158 million Local Growth Deal from Government, a deal that will create up to12,000 jobs and 5,000 new homes in the area.

Several projects within the Local Growth Deal will tackle major traffic congestion issues with a high level bridge crossing the Manchester Ship Canal from the A56 Chester Road providing considerable relief immediately south of Warrington town centre.

Traffic congestion issues are also being tackled in Warrington East, with more than £2million of LEP funding committed through the ambitious £5million Birchwood Pinchpoint scheme, with £2million of match funding from Warrington Borough Council.

The funding will help to protect and create jobs, improving the working day for commuters. This bodes well for future transport schemes with the main contract expected to start later month and finish in February 2016.

The success of the Omega site continues with over £217million already invested and major companies such as Asda and The Hut Group on Omega South and Brakes, Hermes and Travis Perkins on Omega North, with further planning granted for the next stage of development.

Cheshire's Science Corridor has certainly been at the forefront of our minds with Government allocating substantial levels of money to support science and innovation in our region, with more than £113m provided for the Cognitive Computing Research Centre at the Hartree Centre in Daresbury and a new £5million funding pot made available from Government as part of the Catapult in Medicines Technologies initiative at Alderley Park.

The £30million committed for Transport for the North in the summer budget has been a welcome boost, with the Northern Powerhouse fast-becoming a very real proposition. As the most successful economy in the North, Cheshire & Warrington has a major contribution to make to realise these ambitions and rebalance the UK economy.

I have devoted a great deal of time in my first year to regularly meeting companies, business organisations and our MPs on an individual basis as well as through our series of LEP Business Breakfast events, and I will continue to do this to ensure that the voice of the private sector is heard in Whitehall.