Five thousand jobs are to be created as part of an historic £470m investment in transport, science and education across Greater Manchester, the Evening News reported.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, announcing the deal , said: “The Greater Manchester Growth Deal will create thousands of jobs, provide incredible new training opportunities for young people, and improve transport links across the region for people and their families – building a stronger economy and a fairer society.”
The deal between the government and officials in the region will see £350m alone pumped into major transport improvements. They will include 12 new Metrolink trams; Three new platforms at Salford Central Station; Work to ease congestion on Regent Road and Great Ancoats Street into Manchester city centre; New public transport interchanges in Ashton and Stockport; Developments to the bus route between Bolton and Manchester.
The huge cash injection will also include investment in life sciences across Greater Manchester – as well as new facilities for colleges around the region. The historic Growth Deal between the government and the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership will see £170m spent in the region next year – with a further £307m committed from 2016 onwards.Government officials say the projects which start next year will help create 5,000 jobs, support more than 75,000 people learning new skills and generate up to £80m in further investment.
The investment will help pay for a media centre at Salford City College, a civil engineering centre at Stockport College and manufacturing equipment at TamesideCollege.
It will support the transformation of Astra Zeneca’s current base in Alderley Park into a global bioscience centre for the north west.
The deal also aims to reform public services – including providing employment support for vulnerable people.