The Lancashire County Combined Authority (LCCA) has developed a two-stage prioritisation framework to support transparent and consistent decision-making across the project pipeline. This approach builds on previous strategic work and incorporates the latest guidance from the 2025 Green Book review.
The framework is designed to identify transformational projects, those that can materially advance the strategic goals of the Growth Plan, either individually or in combination with others. These projects may deliver benefits across a wide geography or, in the case of more localised schemes, offer a scale and concentration of impact that addresses specific economic and social challenges.
The two-stage process includes:
Stage 1: Gateway assessment
A high-level filter to identify projects with transformational potential based on strategic alignment and the capacity to deliver lasting change.
Stage 2: Appraisal framework
A structured scoring system that assesses all projects across three domains:
- Strategic Fit – alignment with local and national priorities, including Green Book principles.
- Impact – covering economic, social, and environmental outcomes.
- Viability, Fundability, and Deliverability – assessing project readiness and feasibility.
This approach ensures that projects are not solely judged on their current maturity, but on their potential to contribute meaningfully to Lancashire’s long-term ambitions. It also allows for projects to be grouped for development, funding, or advocacy, and is designed to evolve as the pipeline matures.
Supporting delivery and strategic alignment
The framework will guide the development of investment cases and support project sponsors in progressing initiatives through the pipeline. It will also inform the prioritisation of emerging projects, including informing those developed through the forthcoming Local Transport Plan, ensuring alignment with the Growth Plan’s strategic objectives.