A group of 12 Investment Zones are set to be announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt during the Budget on Wednesday, March 15.
Mr Hunt is expected to confirm that each area will be backed by £80m of funding while an extra £100m is to be shared across Glasgow, Greater Manchester and the West Midlands to help them become 'globally competitive centres for research and innovation'.
The Investment Zones will receive £80m each over five years, including 'generous tax incentives'. The funding can be used to improve skills, provide specialist business support, improve the planning system or for local infrastructure.