<p>The chancellor Jeremy Hunt has announced 12 new Investment Zones as part of the government’s Spring Budget.</p> <p>In a Budget focused on growth but light on direct housing help, the chancellor announced 12 “<span>potential Canary Wharfs” across the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, the North East, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, East Midlands, Teesside and Liverpool. There would also be “at least one” of these in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. </span><span></span></p> <p><span>The project is a scaled-down and “<a href="http://www.house-builder.co.uk/news/investment-zones-refocused/">refocused” version</a> of the <a href="http://www.house-builder.co.uk/news/chancellor-cuts-stamp-duty">Investment Zones initiative, originally announced by former prime minister Liz Truss</a>. Each “cluster” is set to drive growth in key “future sectors” and bring investment to the local area.</span><span></span></p> <p>In his Budget, Hunt also said the government would invest £200 million in “high quality” local regeneration projects. It would offer £<span>161 million for mayoral combined authorities and Greater London. And £400 million would be made available for levelling up partnerships in areas including Redcar and Cleveland.</span><span></span></p> <p>The above measures were announced under the government’s four pillar industrial strategy - Employment, Education, Enterprise and “Everywhere”. <span></span></p> <p>On energy measures, Hunt unveiled up to £20 billion for the “early development” of carbon capture, usage and storage projects, supporting up to …