£700m Strategic Sites Accelerator Launches to Unlock Up to 10 Major UK Industrial Sites
The government launched its £700m Strategic Sites Accelerator on 2 November 2026 to unlock six to 10 major industrial and commercial sites, using loans, equity, targeted grants and technical support, with the aim of attracting up to £2bn of private investment.
By Entrepreneur Group · Published
The government formally launched its Strategic Sites Accelerator on 2 November 2026, with around £700m to help unlock up to 10 major industrial and commercial sites across the UK. According to the government announcement, the programme will use loans, equity, targeted grants and technical support to tackle barriers such as finance, grid connections and planning, and aims to attract up to £2bn of private investment.
The stated ambition is six to 10 sites, and the Accelerator is open to sites in every nation and region. It is run by the Office for Investment and the National Wealth Fund, with property adviser CBRE as National Delivery Partner.
Which sites and sectors
The Accelerator is aimed at large sites such as science parks, manufacturing sites and innovation districts. The target sectors are advanced manufacturing, digital and tech, defence and life sciences.
The government says the Accelerator is already engaging with sites in Glasgow, Burgess Hill and Sheffield. It is also exploring opportunities in:
- Greater Manchester
- West Yorkshire
- The West Midlands
- South Yorkshire, including Runway Park in the Don Valley Corridor
- The Liverpool City Region
- The North East
- The Glasgow City Region
- The Cardiff Capital Region
BusinessCloud reported the same list of areas. These are places under consideration, not confirmed or funded projects. Each investment is subject to commercial assessment, due diligence and approvals.
How the search will work
Mayors and local leaders are working with No10 North, a team at the centre of government, to find the strongest sites. The government says No10 North and the Accelerator will share pipelines of priority projects. The programme says it will work with investors, developers and regional partners on commercially credible sites with genuine market demand.
The government release does not describe an application process. Planning Geek reports that CBRE announced a first project call on 28 October, alongside the Budget, with submissions closing on 20 January 2027. It also notes that putting a site forward does not bring planning permission, funding or priority status. We were unable to open CBRE's own announcement to check these details, so anyone considering a submission should confirm them directly with CBRE.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: "This programme will get the ball rolling for up to 10 of the UK's most important potential sites."
The same announcement says mayors will receive a share of business rates from 2027 and an assignment of income tax from 2028, and that a further £285m will support areas moving towards devolution deals or Strategic Authority status.
What it means for founders
This section is editorial guidance. The Accelerator is for large sites, not individual businesses, so most founders will not apply to it directly. But if you run a manufacturing, life sciences, defence or deep tech business that needs space, power or a grid connection to grow, it is worth watching which sites are chosen. New science parks and industrial sites can bring lab space, production units and supply chain opportunities. If your business is linked to a site in one of the named areas, your local combined authority or mayor's office is a sensible first contact.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Strategic Sites Accelerator?
It is a government programme with around £700m of funding, launched on 2 November 2026, to unlock six to 10 major industrial and commercial sites in the UK using loans, equity, targeted grants and technical support. It is run by the Office for Investment and the National Wealth Fund, with CBRE as National Delivery Partner.
Which sectors does the Strategic Sites Accelerator target?
The government says it targets advanced manufacturing, digital and tech, defence and life sciences, at sites such as science parks, manufacturing sites and innovation districts.
Can my business apply to the Strategic Sites Accelerator?
The government release does not describe an application process for individual businesses. The Accelerator works with investors, developers and regional partners on major sites, and Planning Geek reports that CBRE's first project call closes on 20 January 2027.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Mayors and local leaders work with No10 North to drive search for 'top 10' biggest strategic investment sites across country (2 November 2026) (reviewed 4 November 2026)
- BusinessCloud: £700m to 'reindustrialise' 10 strategic sites across UK (2 November 2026) (reviewed 4 November 2026)
- Planning Geek: Strategic Sites Accelerator opens £700m project call (updated 2 November 2026) (reviewed 4 November 2026)