Greater Manchester's bid to host World Expo 2025 stopped Exclusive by Kevin Fitzpatrick

BBC Greater Manchester political reporter Published duration 30 November 2016

image copyright Google image caption Ashton Moss in Tameside had been indentified as a possible location for World Expo 2025

Greater Manchester's bid to host the World Expo in 2025 has been stopped by the government, the BBC has learned.

But Chancellor Philip Hammond now says concerns over rising costs mean the UK will no longer be bidding to be hosts.

Ashton Moss in Tameside was a possible location for the six-month showcase of technology, manufacturing and culture.

image copyright Getty Images image caption The glitzy opening ceremony of World Expo 2015 in Milan featured a fly-past by the Frecce Tricolore aerobatic team

'Not value for money'

Representatives of 145 countries attended World Expo 2015 in Italy, which boasted 54 national pavilions at a sprawling site in Milan.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) said the event would have been worth billions of pounds to the local economy and created thousands of jobs.

Tameside Council leader Kieran Quinn said GMCA was "very disappointed" and has asked to meet Mr Hammond to discuss salvaging the bid.

Mr Quinn said the bid rejection came as "terrible news" and demonstrated a lack of government ambition.

He said: "They are stopping us entering a race, not only which we believe we could win, but we could also change the way the UK is viewed post-Brexit vote. This is the kind of opportunity the country needs.

"I do think if a city further south had come forward they would have looked at it differently."

The treasury said in a statement: "Ministers carefully considered Greater Manchester's proposals but do not believe hosting the World Expo offers good value for money for taxpayers.

"The government is working closely with local leaders to create a Northern Powerhouse and build an economy that works for everyone, and that is why we backed Greater Manchester with £1.2bn of additional funding through its devolution deal.

"We are also providing over half a billion pounds for local projects to help create jobs across the north, £13bn to improve transport, and we remain as committed as ever to working with those in the north, who know the north best, to unleash its full potential."

image copyright AFP image caption China's exhibit at Expo 2015 highlighted the country's success in conquering food shortages