Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has announced a new Industrial Strategy Zone that brings its Life Sciences Investment Zone and Freeport programmes under a more coordinated regional investment offer.
The arrangement was unveiled on 11 March 2026 and is intended to make it easier for businesses and investors to understand the support available across designated sites and industrial sectors. It combines existing programmes rather than replacing their underlying purposes.
The Combined Authority says the wider approach will support investment in facilities, innovation, workforce skills and business development. It identifies health and life sciences, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, maritime activity and logistics among the sectors expected to benefit.
The announcement refers to £185 million in funding associated with the coordinated offer and emphasises the potential to attract further private investment through clearer links between projects, infrastructure and business support.
The change gives businesses and investors a more coordinated account of two existing programmes. Reporting their subsequent activity separately will be important for understanding which interventions support particular outcomes.