[OFFICIAL]
Complex economic challenges
2.4 The political and economic geography of the Woodsmith Project is complex – the project itself straddles two regions, four travel to work areas, the National Park and two combined authorities. The impacts of the project – particularly employees and supply chain – stretch farther still. Investment, supply chain and productivity gains are nationally significant. 2.5 Despite this complexity, and locally specific characteristics, these areas face many similar challenges, with policy at all levels having similar objectives. Local growth strategies explicitly reference the Woodsmith Project and its contribution to objectives. National growth strategies emphasis the critical importance of investment in the north of England to realise the UK’s productivity gains and meet the economic headwinds of the future.
Productivity is lower and slower growing in the north ONS, 2026, Regional GVA in current prices 2015- 2023 £s Million
600,000
London
500,000
South East
400,000
North West
East
300,000
South West
West Midlands
200,000
Yorkshire and The Humber East Midlands
100,000
North East
0
2.6 Productivity – which is lower and slower growing in the north – is, as it has been before – highlighted as a major stumbling block for the further growth of the North. Low productivity (which means the amount of value added by each worker, or all workers cumulatively) traps employees in low wages and dampens investment potential.
2.7 The picture of local productivity is mixed - despite a challenging regional context, GVA growth in York and North Yorkshire (52%) was higher than the national average (51%) (ONS, 2025).
2.8 Growth in the NYMNP was lower than both (41%) but is relatively high for a rural area – and the Woodsmith Project is a critical component of that.
2.9 GVA growth in the Tees Valley has lagged far behind the average for England over the decade 2013 to 2023 with Redcar and Cleveland struggling in particular.
Quod | Woodsmith Project | Economic Impact Report | March 2026
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