A project to create an economic 'super region' that stretches from the West of England across the Bristol Channel into Wales is planning to bring together an all-party parliamentary group of MPs and Welsh Assembly members to drive the initiative forward.

The Western Gateway is a plan to boost local economies by encouraging cross-border collaboration between businesses and authorities in and around Bristol, Bath, Swindon, Gloucester, Weston-super-Mare, Cheltenham, Salisbury, Newport, Cardiff and Swansea.

The project is being chaired by Airbus boss Katherine Bennett, who told 150 business and political leaders on a video call that she had already had "some conversations" with politicians.

She said the project had also been given the go ahead to set up a board of business leaders to help with the plans.

“Let’s not fool ourselves, [the Western Gateway project] is not going to be an easy task and it’s not going to happen overnight,” she said.

“The only way we can do that I feel is by us having a leadership group and with business alongside us and endeavour to show how this western part of the UK, that we're all so happy and proud to both live and work in, can contribute to the nation’s wealth.”

The project, which was being discussed at a virtual meeting being run by Bristol-based chambers of commerce Business West, is also looking for “ambassadors” to become part of an advisory group, according to Ms Bennett.

She added: “We do believe we have a lot of great things going for us. As a business leader, I have a passionate belief that business often follows business and I am so keen to get a load of business ambassadors working alongside me.”

Delivering the vision could add more than £56billion to the UK economy by 2030 and help the region achieve a net-zero future, according to the organisations behind the initiative.

Proposals include boosting the region’s digital connectivity to drive sustainable transport, creating a global gateway for export and investment, and driving innovation.

Katherine Bennett is chair of the Western Gateway

In February, the project launched a new website and prospectus explaining the plans in more detail.

Ms Bennett said the team behind the project would analyse all the work that had already been done and pull together a “really strong” economic case.

Western Gateway next steps

  • Consult with partners to create full vision document and develop ambitions
  • Carry out an independent economic review building on evidence from local industrial strategies and city region economic strategies
  • Develop detailed outline business case propositions for major investments the Western Gateway wants from government and international investors
  • Implement governance review recommendations if possible
  • Forge partnerships with other regional powerhouses
  • Set up all-party parliamentary group
  • Continue to press for support for economic recovery

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“We have a region that has a highly energised business community engaged and focused on the strategic challenges we face post Covid-19," said James Durie, chief executive of Business West.

"We know business wants to do this and is so ambitious for this region. They know we need this part of the country heard in Whitehall and its role properly recognised and understood as part of the national conversation."

Dr Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), said the challenge for those involved would be “speaking with one voice”.

Former Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said at the launch of the initiative in November that it would "provide an arena for the joint strengths of two neighbouring areas".

”South Wales and the West of England already form a natural economic region with excellent transport networks in road and rail and well-established links in business, industry and education," he said at the time.

“The region can be a true powerhouse of the UK economy if we take this opportunity to galvanise its many strengths to generate ideas, innovation and entrepreneurship in order to stimulate jobs and growth."