Prime Minister to promise nearly £1bn for Northern Powerhouse | City A.M.

Prime Minister Theresa May will today hold the first ever Cabinet meeting in the north east of England, in a bid to convince voters of her commitment to the so-called Northern Powerhouse.

She is expected to confirm an investment of up to £780m into transport for the region, providing major upgrades to the East Coast Main Line to be completed in the early 2020s.

The government will also provide a further £180m to fund research centres in offshore renewable energy and advanced manufacturing.

Read more: East Coast train line hit with delays on first day under government control

The meeting will mark the formal conclusion of previously agreed legislation on a devolution deal with Newcastle, Northumberland and the north of Tyne regions to transfer power to local governments.

May said ahead of the meeting: “We have set out major policies and investments as part of our Modern Industrial Strategy to unlock the potential in the north.”