TRANSFORMING the former ICI headquarters into a vibrant hub for 120 businesses has been hailed as a regeneration model to boost the UK economy.

Metro mayors Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham visited The Heath in Runcorn yesterday to find out how the rejuvenated site has become one of the country's leading independently run business and technical parks.

The pair met businesses in a networking session with Halton Council leader Rob Polhill and chief executive David Parr.

Around 2,000 people are now employed in companies ranging from business services and IT to cutting edge science, research and advanced manufacturing.

Liverpool metro mayor Mr Rotheram said: "It’s the type of businesses and some of the innovations that I was most fascinated by.”

He was impressed by the vast range of research being carried out including tissue and joint regeneration, manufacturing artificial blood, nanotechnology and cutting-edge environmental science using polymers to dramatically reduce the world’s carbon footprint.

Mr Rotheram added: “I think the only way UK plc will be able to recover from a post industrialised wipe out and what happens in a post-Brexit world is to use facilities in a different way to try to encourage indigenous businesses to start to look at innovation.”

Manchester metro mayor Andy Burnham said: “The Heath is a prime example of developing and retaining skills and expertise in the north west and adapting to suit the needs of changing industries and sectors.

"I have been impressed by this vibrant industrial base in Runcorn, housing a number of cutting-edge companies which are very obviously doing well.

“Building networks between academia and businesses, big and small, is central to achieving economic prosperity and developing a varied skills base.

“Both myself and Steve Rotheram are developing local industrial strategies and facilities like this should be at the heart of our thinking.”

SOG group managing director John Lewis believes his company’s unique business model is a template for regeneration of other large sites around the country which may be down-sizing or closing.

Mr Lewis said: "It is possible to breathe new life into threatened sites – protecting facilities, attracting new businesses and creating new job opportunities.

"These facilities don’t just provide an environment to work in, they can also become important community assets for the enjoyment of local residents and community groups too.

“Regeneration is a key part of the mayors’ remits and I feel SOG is well-paced to offer advice and guidance to both Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester on regeneration issues.

"I’m also keen to work even more closely with local authorities to find ways of speeding up our own plans to build on our success to date.

“In Runcorn we have done remarkable things by cleverly refurbishing 1960s buildings to make them fit for purpose for today’s science innovation.

"However, we must look ahead to the next 20 years because we do need to modernise these buildings to keep pace with technological advancements – ensuring they meet future exacting environmental standards.

"Our plans for The Heath over the coming five years will turn this site into probably the most advanced and environmentally-friendly business and technology centre in the north of England.”

The metro mayors met employees at three businesses onsite.

Nanoco Group plc, a world leader in the development and manufacture of cadmium-free quantum dots and nanomaterials, which is expanding its operations; SpheriTech, a leading life-science company undertaking a £100k pioneering research project to develop artificial

blood and Econic Technologies which has constructed a state-of-the-art customer demonstration plant, to showcase its cutting-edge catalyst technologies in a bespoke industrial unit.