Cheshire’s Future: Growth, Place and Leadership

Cheshire and Warrington is entering a new era. The opportunity for devolution is to create a growth model in which good housing, infrastructure, skills, investment, tourism, social value and nature recovery reinforce one another.

With a landmark devolution deal agreed and the region’s first mayor due to be elected in May 2027, Cheshire and Warrington have a major opportunity to shape a stronger, more connected and more competitive future.

Hosted at Chester Zoo, this half-day conference will bring together senior business leaders, public-sector representatives, civic organisations and other key stakeholders to explore what devolution means for the region and how the new Combined Authority can work effectively with the private sector.

The conversation will focus on how Cheshire and Warrington can unlock investment, support businesses and communities, and deliver growth that is both economically ambitious and built for the long term.

Rather than treating growth and the environment as competing priorities, the event will explore how housing, infrastructure, skills, innovation, tourism, nature recovery and community wellbeing can work together to create a more resilient and distinctive place.

Delegates will also hear how world-leading institutions, businesses and cross-sector partnerships can help strengthen the region’s profile, attract investment and build a prosperous, nature-positive Cheshire and Warrington.

Key themes will include:

• The economic opportunities created by devolution
• The priorities for Cheshire and Warrington’s first mayor
• The role of business in shaping the region’s future
• Housing, infrastructure, connectivity and regeneration
• Skills, innovation, productivity and investment
• Nature-positive growth, climate resilience and green infrastructure
• Strengthening the visitor economy and the region’s global profile
• Partnerships between business, public services, civic organisations and communities

Join Downtown in Business and Chester Zoo for a morning of insight, debate, hospitality and networking as Cheshire and Warrington prepares for its next chapter.

Event Sponsors