Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent steps his Department has taken to develop policy relating to Investment Zones.

Since publication of the policy prospectus in March, officials have been working in partnership with the eight places in England named at Spring Budget to co-develop their Investment Zone proposals. Further guidance on the co-development process, outcomes framework and wider criteria proposals need to meet was published in the Technical Document in July.

Further to the answer to Question UIN 189556 on 22 June 2023, the Government is working with the devolved administrations to deliver Investment Zones. In Scotland, Glasgow City Region and North East of Scotland were announced as Investment Zones in June. Discussions on how Investment Zones could be delivered in Wales are on-going.