Our region is a vibrant melting pot of creativity, community, and innovation.

A region with thriving urban districts, a wealth of diverse cultural opportunities, natural assets and rural landscapes that attract both new residents and visitors to the region. We’re committed to ensuring it’s a place where everyone can live well.

In 10 years, the region will look and feel different – providing opportunities for people right across the West of England. Our Growth Zones form a connected network, with sector strengths and investments in one zone driving opportunities and innovation across the others.

Working together as a region and with Government, we will take the action needed to transform our transport network, build new homes and places and ensure our Growth Zones and the wider region are primed for growth.

Discover our priority growth zones

With a network of growth and investment opportunities across the region, the next decade will see the acceleration of growth across our core areas of sector strength, the creation of new places, and major growth driven regeneration.

Map of growth zones, scroll for alternative description
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Click or swipe to learn about each priority growth zone →

A network of regional growth zones will be central to our decade of growth, opening up a wealth of new opportunities for businesses and residents right across the West of England.

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The West Innovation Arc

The Arc is a growing new district that is home to our R&D, advanced manufacturing, innovation and security capability. With the new district of Brabazon at its heart, and fast-growing innovation led job creation, the West Innovation Arc will deliver nationally significant growth over the next decade.

South Gloucestershire, home to the expanding Innovation Arc, is the fastest growing part of our regional economy - and is rapidly emerging as a catalyst for nationally significant growth.

Image credit: YTL

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Central Bristol & Bath

Our major cities have a unique and diverse economic mix, including a thriving creative sector, internationally significant digital sector strengths and a culture that attracts visitors and new residents.

With large scale development opportunities including housing growth – our cities will be our engines of growth.

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Severn Estuary

The home of clean energy transition in the West of England, the Severn Estuary growth zone includes industrial capacity for nuclear energy, floating offshore wind and more. It is a place that can deliver at scale – making clean energy transition a reality.

This zone includes Oldbury, a nationally significant site for nuclear, it also includes The Bristol Port, stretching into North Somerset and the surrounding industrial areas offer major investment opportunities in clean energy sectors.

As well as the existing strengths in freight and logistics, Severn Estuary offers major investment opportunities in clean energy sectors. The Severn Estuary will be at the core of our national clean energy transition.

Image credit: Bristol Port Company

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Somer Valley

The Somer Valley is the West of England’s opportunity to showcase rural innovation and sustainable industry.

With a rich legacy of mining, engineering and manufacturing, the Somer Valley is now entering a new chapter, evolving from its industrial past into a modern, green productivity zone, where sustainable business, vibrant communities and landscape led regeneration can go hand in hand.

Image credit: Bath and North East Somerset Council

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North Somerset Growth Gateway

The North Somerset Growth Gateway offers the dual opportunity of investment in innovative production and manufacturing; and growth opportunities in digital technology and its supply chain, stemming from the new Epic Campus.

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Learn more about opportunities in these growth zones

Looking for more detail about our growth zones, and the investment opportunities within them?

Pages 80-98 of the West of England Growth Strategy offer insight, opportunities and case studies in these zones.

Image credit: Dan Weill

Download the full Growth Strategy (pdf, 8mb)

Growth across the region and beyond

While our Growth Zones will be a core focus of strengthening our growth potential over the next 10 years, there is a wider network of opportunities for growth across the wider region.

The West of England is a network of cities, towns, communities, urban and rural areas.

The diversity of the region brings a wide range of growth opportunities. From small scale housing development sites, to rural business development, to light industry – the West of England is a place where growth of all kinds can flourish.

Our links to other parts of the country and internationally are vital and will be strengthened over the next decade. While this strategy has core areas of focus that will drive our decade of growth, we will ensure the wider region and economy is at the heart of our growth journey. For growth to be of impact, it must reach all communities and be in line with our climate and nature ambitions.