SIX Chambers of Commerce, representing more than 12,000 businesses, have urged Chancellor George Osborne to empower industry across the North and deliver UK growth.

The business membership organisations have written to Mr Osborne to back proposals included in the One North plan, which was put forward by five local authorities earlier this year.

The letter was signed by the chief executives of the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, Liverpool and Sefton Chambers of Commerce, Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry and West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

One North was launched in July and proposes significant investment in transport and connectivity infrastructure over the next 16 years.

It received a positive welcome from the Chancellor, who indicated he would respond to the proposals in his Autumn Statement on Wednesday, December 3.

James Ramsbotham, NECC chief executive said the North-East has a number of substantial business and economic assets, which should be used for the benefit of the UK.

He pointed to Nissan’s record-breaking Sunderland car plant and its supply chain, the offshore sector, and Teesside’s chemicals sector.

He said: “Our members are very much behind the principle of improved connectivity across the North, which will unlock the huge assets within the Northern economy.

“A united Northern chambers network stands ready to work with our local authorities and the Government to ensure this initiative delivers benefits across the North and meets businesses’ expectations.

“The local authorities that have pushed the project to this point must be congratulated.

“Infrastructure in the North has been under-developed for decades and addressing this is essential to achieve economic rebalancing and create the Northern Powerhouse Government has spoken of.

“While transport is by no means our members’ sole concern, it is consistently a high priority across all of our organisations.

“We therefore urge progress to ensure the opportunity to deliver these investments is not missed.”

Mr Ramsbotham said the Chambers involved in producing this response represent businesses in the five cities involved in developing the One North plan.

However, he said it is critical support for the project expands beyond the boundaries of the local authorities concerned.

He added: “The North has the capacity to support much greater levels of economic activity.

“There is available land for development, at a cheaper cost, than many parts of the South.

“Development can also be delivered without putting the same pressure on environmental resources, such as water.

“In supporting One North, the Northern Chambers of Commerce are calling on other organisations across the North to work together, to ensure the opportunity to transform connectivity across the North is grasped.”