South West trio shortlisted as GIB home
Three South West locations are among those in the running to host the Green Investment Bank (GIB), the government has confirmed.
A total of 32 bids from towns and cities across the UK have been shortlisted, including Torbay, Bristol and Gloucester.
The process for finalising the location of the GIB was announced last month with interested parties invited to self-assess against a common set of criteria, to demonstrate whether they would be an effective base for the GIB.
Business secretary Vince Cable said: "I am delighted that the GIB has fired the imagination of so many public and private sector groups keen to host this world-first institution. They all have a role to play in helping the UK seize the benefits of a transition to a low carbon economy."
The government said the GIB will play a key role in its move towards a green economy, complementing other green policies aimed at encouraging private sector investment into green infrastructure.
All the submissions will now be reviewed against the criteria by a review panel. Advice will then be put to Cable who will announce his final decision next month.
The locations bidding to host the bank are: Bicester, Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Chester, Cornwall, Coventry and Warwickshire, Derby, Durham, Edinburgh, Gloucester, Hull, Ipswich, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham, Peterborough, Renfrewshire, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Sunderland, Tees Valley, Torbay and Warrington.
