Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that (a) South Northamptonshire constituency, (b) other semi-rural constituencies and (c) rural constituencies will be affected by (i) the Strategic Sites Accelerator and (ii) other place-based investment initiatives set out in the UK’s Modern Industrial Strategy, published on 23 June 2025.

The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to back our strengths and realise Britain’s potential, targeting government investment towards eight-growth driving sectors (IS-8). The Strategy’s place-based approach focuses efforts on the city regions and clusters where the IS-8 concentrate, to identify and accelerate the highest-potential opportunities in these places. There are clusters of the growth driving sectors across the whole country, including in rural areas, and the policy package addresses the biggest constraints to growth highlighted by these businesses.

The Strategic Sites Accelerator will prepare and accelerate strategic sites for development. The Office for Investment and Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government are working closely together to identify sites for development which align closely with the Industrial Strategy’s strategic focus and the Government’s Plan for Change.