MediaFounder of pro-growth campaign group Britain Remade, Sam Richards, will meet today with Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley, to discuss how more energy infrastructure could promote growth in Teeside and the North East. This will be followed by a roundtable to hear from business leaders about the barriers holding the region back.
Britain Remade this week launched a petition in support of onshore wind in response to the launch of a Government consultation on lifting its effective ban.
A recent poll commissioned by Britain Remade found the North East was the most supportive region in the country for more local onshore wind. The poll, conducted by Opinium, found that 78% of North East residents would support more onshore wind in their local area, compared to a national average of 67%.
More than 50% of North East residents believed more clean energy infrastructure would create new jobs in the local area and benefit the local economy.
Sam Richards said: “Our polling shows there is strong support for onshore wind across Britain, and nowhere more so than the North East. We are calling on political and business leaders, as well as ordinary people, to back our petition and demonstrate to Government that Britain wants an end to the ban.”
Britain Remade is a new pro-growth campaign fighting to remove the barriers which are blocking more clean energy infrastructure, which has the potential to create significant economic growth, jobs, and prosperity, especially in the North-East.
Ben Houchen, Mayor of Tees Valley, said: “Tees Valley has found itself at the forefront of a number of new clean energy industries and has seen more growth, jobs and investment as a result. It is great to see a campaign looking to find ways of unlocking more growth in the region and I think ending the ban on onshore wind would be a great place to start.”
Britain Remade are holding a roundtable with members of the North East England Chamber of Commerce tomorrow to discuss the barriers holding the region back from further growth. The event is part of a nationwide series aiming to unlock more regional economic growth across Britain.
You can sign the petition here.