North West England

Economy

The North West is historically linked with the textiles industry, mainly before the mid 20th century. The Greater Manchester region produces the most economic output according to GVA in 2007 with £46,189m. Followed by Lancashire with £22,470m, Cheshire £21,317m and Merseyside £19,112m and Cumbria with £7,379m.

According to research by Cushman and Wakefield in 2008, Manchester is the second best city to locate a business in the UK whilst Liverpool is the eleventh best city. The Financial Times stated that the North West economy, led by the redevelopment of Manchester and Liverpool, is a genuine rival to 'overheated London'.

The area's electricity, formerly looked after by MANWEB and NORWEB, is now looked after by ScottishPower Energy Networks and United Utilities respectively. The Morecambe Bay gas field provides 6% of the UK's natural gas.

Electricity generation in North West England

Power stations

Biomass

Active	Fiddlers Ferry (co-fires)

Coal

Active	Fiddlers Ferry

Closed	Agecroft Back o' th' Bank Barton Blackburn Bloom Street Bold Bolton Carlisle Carrington Chadderton Dickinson Street Fleetwood Hartshead Huncoat Ince A Kearsley Lancaster Lister Drive Merseyside Padiham Radcliffe Ribble Roosecote Salford Slacks Valley Southport Spa Road Stockport Stuart Street Trafford Warrington Westwood Whitebirk