Two areas that suffered heavy job losses when traditional industries were closed are to be revived.

Hundreds of new jobs are to be created in Lanarkshire, an economically depressed area in Scotland and, in Liverpool, a shipyard that closed four years ago is to be reopened.

Scottish jobs

A partnership comprising Lanarkshire Development Agency, British Steel and North Lanarkshire Council, has announced a multi-million pound plan to regenerate Ravenscraig, which was devastated by the closure of the steelworks in 1992.

The group said 6,000 jobs would be created if they won planning permission for the project, which involves building new houses, leisure facilities, shops and factories over a 15-year period. The 1,125 acre area is already Britain's biggest urban regeneration site - £20 million has already been spent on decontamination.

The first phase of the ambitious project is expected to cost up to £15 million in public funds, some of it coming from European grants. In total, the transformation is expected to cost £500 million, much of which will come from the private sector, with the public investment acting as a pump primer.

The plan's backers launched the proposal for public consultation on Wednesday and work is expected to start in 1998 after planning approvals have been given.

The project involves up to 3,400 homes, a technology park, one area of land set aside for a single industrial user, shops and leisure facilities, including a skiing centre, two primary schools and a railway station.

The technology park has the potential to generate more than 2,500 jobs and the single industrial user site will have the potential for 2,000 jobs.

The plan has also won the approval of the Government. Scottish industry minister Brian Wilson said it "was a further step on the road to recovery for Lanarkshire's economic fortunes".

Cable and Wireless is also building a new call centre in Lanarkshire, creating seven hundred jobs.

Liverpool shipyard reopened

Cammell Laird shipyard may reopen

Meanwhile, on Merseyside, the Cammell Laird shipyard is likely to be reopened after four years of closure. Reports say that a Norwegian consortium has agreed to build two luxury liners there. The deal is not expected to be finalised until next year.
 

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