The LCR Innovation Zone Programme Management Board met on Friday 27 March 2026 to discuss programme delivery and performance, communications and outreach, and the growing role of Liverpool Health Partners. The Board noted that over £49.7m of Investment Zone funding had been approved, with £34.68m across ten projects in active delivery.

Programme Update and Performance Monitoring

The Board received an update on the delivery and performance of the LCR Life Sciences Investment Zone and LCR Freeport Programmes. Officers reported that over £49.7 million of Investment Zone funding had been approved, with £34.68 million allocated to ten projects currently in delivery and a further £15.02 million at the Grant Funding Agreement stage. The programme had successfully leveraged £4 million in direct match funding and an additional £55 million within the sector, with an emphasis placed on the continued need to secure match funding across all projects. Significant progress had been made in specialist skills development, with 73.7 jobs created.

Members raised questions regarding the double counting of accrued expenditure, seeking clarification on lessons learned and measures being implemented to prevent recurrence. Regarding business rates, officers confirmed that retention was in place at existing sites for both programmes, citing positive examples in St Helens and for Project Violet. The potential for an Additional Business Rate Retention Zone was highlighted as a live national opportunity, with a business proposal submitted and ongoing dialogue with relevant authorities. Discussions had also taken place regarding the review of existing tax site boundaries and the pursuit of fiscal devolution, with a current focus on a proposal in Sefton centred on Atlantic Park.

The Board expressed support for efforts to secure additional Business Rate Retention Zones and Strategic Sites Accelerator funding. A third party had been commissioned to assess the geographical representation of the programme, and members expressed keen interest in learning more about this work, suggesting that a map of the latest proposals would be beneficial. It was also noted that advocating the approach as part of a group of freeports could be advantageous. The Board offered support to officers and stressed the importance of speed, indicating a willingness to relay concerns to central government partners. The Vice-Chair requested that any collective freeport correspondence or positions submitted to central government be routed through or consulted upon with him, and asked that officers circulate a draft map and proposal to Board members shortly after the meeting.

Despite some softness in the logistics market, officers reported good development and evidence of demand across the freeport tax sites, with occupancy projected at around two-thirds for key developments within the Investment Zone. Two new Investment Zone opportunities were identified: Project Halo in St Helens and The Heath in Runcorn. In relation to Hemisphere One, the grant request had significantly increased due to construction costs, and the business case was undergoing independent appraisal, with a fuller report anticipated in October. Members reiterated that job creation remained a key concern for the Board.

An update on the Freeport programme indicated that delivery at Parkside was progressing rapidly under a joint venture, with groundworks well underway. At Wirral Waters, two of three planning applications had been approved. The first unit at MEA Park West was to be considered by Wirral Council, with a potential investor in prospect. The seed capital allocation had been fully disbursed, with the majority of spending expected in 2026/27. In response to member concerns about delays to the third MEA Park West application, it was acknowledged that further Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)¹ studies were the cause, impacting the schedule. The Vice-Chair suggested trialling a flagging system to indicate progress against schedule and requested that Sub-Committee materials be made available to all members. Actions arising included the circulation of Sub-Committee action points and collective reporting on the freeports. The Board resolved to note the report.

Communications and Outreach

The Board considered a report on communications and outreach activities supporting the LCR Innovation Zone Programme. The Assistant Director of Business Growth highlighted the success of UKREiiF in Leeds, which attracted approximately 230 delegates and featured a dedicated Innovation Zone element, with John Willis participating in a national panel. The Innovation Zone Showcase was also reported as very well attended, with 58% of attendees stating it met their expectations and 42% that it exceeded them. FINSA had spoken about how the Investment Zone had supported their investment. Rachel Baird, Project Manager, was thanked for her exceptional work on this event. The Board's agreement was sought for the proposed representation on the communications working group.

Members were encouraged by the feedback from UKREiiF and the LCR Innovation Fortnight, with several advocating for increased activity in this area, building on Liverpool's global recognition. The Executive Director (Investment) noted that such events provided the best opportunity to engage with civil servants, and that the City Region was demonstrating leadership in its freeport and Investment Zone offerings. While praising the content, members inquired about securing greater private sector engagement, particularly from Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)². It was also suggested that the City Region might consider hosting UKREiiF in the future to accommodate its growing attendance. The value of continuing to share positive news was emphasised, citing the investment secured through FINSA's new premises and expansion.

The Board reaffirmed its agreement to an open public session, scheduled for the morning of 2 October 2026, and requested that officers provide further details to members within the coming week to confirm attendance and contributions. Agreement was also confirmed for the proposed representation on the new Communications Working Group, and officers were encouraged to convene its initial meeting as soon as possible. The Board resolved to note the report.

Spurring Innovation and Making Connections: The Growing Role of Liverpool Health Partners

Professor Louise Kenny, Chief Executive Officer of Liverpool Health Partners (LHP), delivered a presentation to the Board. The Vice-Chair welcomed Professor Kenny, noting the positive connection through Professor Mark Power and Professor Tim Jones, who serve on the LHP Board, and viewing the session as an opportunity to explore new avenues.

Professor Kenny explained that genuine innovation requires collaboration between healthcare, academia, government, and industry – a quadruple helix model – to test and scale innovations with communities as co-creating partners. LHP was established to address the need for a single point of contact for industry, operating under a unified governance structure that encompasses the area's NHS trusts, the Integrated Care Board, universities, and the Combined Authority. LHP is driving forward Health Innovation Liverpool, a real estate programme projected to generate approximately £1 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA)³ and create over 13,000 jobs in the health and life sciences sector, benchmarked internationally against institutions like Karolinska.

The Board welcomed the presentation, finding its international perspective, integrated with the local context, to be highly impactful. Discussions touched upon the importance of good housing as a determinant of health, the potential for Right to Request mechanisms to secure more devolved levers for health and economic development, legal and contracting techniques to enhance LHP's impact, methods for translating partnership working into tangible community benefits, and opportunities for employer engagement, such as through occupational health teams in large companies. Professor Kenny responded that a joint research office, facilitating a single contract across the seven trusts, was being established. She also highlighted the significant opportunity presented by the workforce dimension, including the city's role in training over 90% of its nurses and the potential to scale the teach and treat model. The Vice-Chair conveyed the Board's appreciation to Professor Kenny and noted the Board's openness to further and deeper collaboration. The Board resolved to note the presentation.

Business Rates Relief Update

The Board considered a report on applications for Business Rates Relief processed through the LCR Freeport and Health and Life Sciences Investment Zone programmes. Six applications had been reviewed by the Finance and Risk Sub-Committee, all recommended for full relief and accepted by the relevant billing authorities. This represented an annual relief of approximately £943,000 and a five-year value of approximately £4.7 million, with the expectation that the level of activity would increase. The Board endorsed the report's recommendation to continue the current process, including the active role of the Finance and Risk Sub-Committee, and encouraged continued efforts to attract businesses eligible for this support, thereby enhancing their prospects and securing retained business rates for local authorities to deploy towards shared objectives. The Board resolved to note the report.

Risk and Audit Update

A report providing an overview of key risks for the LCR Innovation Zone Programme was presented. Officers noted that two previously reported risks had increased, drawing particular attention to the risk concerning demand for commercial research and development and innovation space requiring a pre-let. Despite the current demand profile, there was a good level of interest in commercial space, and for speculative projects like Hemisphere One, an occupancy rate of around 60% was anticipated. Mark Beardwood, Chair of the Finance and Risk Sub-Committee, provided further insight, noting that the draft material had been reviewed at the Sub-Committee's meeting in late May. The Vice-Chair requested that the report continue to be examined carefully and retained with the meeting papers. The Assistant Director of Investment framed the discussion around whether a project represented value for money or a strategic investment, and the Vice-Chair confirmed the Board's willingness to consider its risk appetite, engage proactively, and empower the team to seek flexibilities where necessary. The Board resolved to note the report.

Any Other Business

Officers informed the Board that arrangements were being made to coordinate the Mayor's diary for a visit from the Spanish ambassador in the Autumn to mark the opening of a unit within a Freeport tax site, and that members would be informed in due course. Mark Beardwood indicated his intention to arrange a tour and, referencing a conversation at the Innovation Zone Showcase about supporting innovation, noted ideas related to Glass Futures in St Helens. The Vice-Chair highlighted a standing open invitation from Sci-Tech Daresbury, which the Board was keen to accept, and confirmed his intention to continue bilateral meetings with members. The meeting closed at 11:18 am.