MOVES to close the north-south prosperity gap were unveiled in Yorkshire.
A £100m partnership to help northern England bridge the gap with the richer south was unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
The Government aims to invest £50m in schemes to boost employment, transport, housing and tourism - over a period of 20 years.
The money will be matched by cash from the north's three regional development agencies, including Yorkshire Forward.
Unveiling the plan in Leeds, Mr Prescott said the scheme presented a "once in a lifetime opportunity to shape a more prosperous future" for the northern regions.
Mr Prescott said: "This is a plan which will build on the investment already going into the north to create thriving and sustainable communities where people want to live, not leave.
"This is the first time there's ever been a growth strategy for the three northern regions together."
He said northern England had a population of 14.5m people - more than Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland put together and twice as big as London.
Mr Prescott said the investment could help the north increase output by £29bn a year and provide jobs for another 250,000 people.
The plan includes creating an "enterprise culture" to help new businesses and research projects flourish and attract graduates and skilled employees.
It also proposes measures to aid key industry "clusters" focusing on chemicals, food and drink, advanced engineering, energy and environmental technologies, financial and professional services and transport.
Public transport and access to airports and sea ports, clearing unwanted housing, providing cheaper homes and a marketing campaign to boost overseas tourist visitors by 20% are all said to be included in the investment plan.
