Thousands of jobs take a step closer as Manufacturing Zones are revealed
Four East Midlands Manufacturing Zones are set to be announced by Communities Secretary Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP today (3rd January) in a move that could create thousands of jobs.
Melton Mowbray, Space Park Leicester, and areas across North Derbyshire and Greater Lincolnshire will receive a total of £500,000 funding to develop their plans.
The aim of the East Midlands Manufacturing Zones is to reduce planning restrictions to allow land to be used more productively and “provide certainty for business investment”.
The announcement comes as the Secretary of State, who is also the Government’s Midlands Engine Champion, visits organisations across the East Midlands today to hear how they are contributing to a thriving region at the heart of the UK’s economic success.
Brokenshire said: “Manufacturing, innovation and trade are at the heart of the East Midlands economy, so it is the perfect place for the UK’s first Manufacturing Zones.
“This is another example of how the Government’s is delivering for the Midlands with our modern Industrial Strategy backing local businesses and building on local strengths.”
Kevin Harris, chair of the LLEP said: “I am delighted that these two projects have been included in the East Midlands Manufacturing Zone pilot announcement today.
“Within our Local Industrial Strategy prospectus the LLEP highlighted 20 potential growth opportunities to increase productivity and support growth across Leicester and Leicestershire.
“For the advanced manufacturing and engineering sector, one of these was to develop an East Midlands Manufacturing Zone pilot to reduce planning restrictions and stimulate investment.
“We have taken this growth opportunity forward through the Midlands Engine call for projects. The funding we have secured will help these projects to deliver two Manufacturing Zones, demonstrating the importance of our Local Industrial Strategy.”
The full list of sites receiving cash is as follows:
Melton Mowbray – £75,000 funding
The Leicester and Leicestershire Local Enterprise partnership will create a Manufacturing Zone (MAZ) in and around Melton Mowbray. Three locations on the edge of the town, together with a centrally located site have been identified as suitable locations for a distinctive food and drink focused manufacturing zone.
The MAZ would help to sustain and grow food and drink manufacturing by providing an attractive portfolio of land combined and support for demand analysis and feasibility work such as master planning.
University of Leicester, Low Cost Access to Space – £50,000 funding
The funding will support the design of the Low-Cost Access to Space facility, part of the planned Space Park Leicester, to ensure it is attractive and accessible to space focussed manufacturers in the area and meets their business needs.
The UK has a powerful innovative and growing Space sector with a turnover of £11.8 billion and GDP of £5.1 billion annually, forecast to be worth £40bn by 2030. The Government recognises that Space is both a strategic asset and an enormous opportunity and is targeting growth to share in the £400 billion global market from 6.5% to 10% by 2030 – a growth which will create and sustain an estimated 100,000 new jobs.
Manufacturing Zone status will build on The Space Park Leicester’s Enterprise Zone and Space-based Science Park status.
Greater Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership – £155,000 funding
The funding will accelerate the development of the food and advanced manufacturing industries across Lincolnshire and the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme area (Holbeach, Central Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire) with investment supporting projects to improve transport and utilities infrastructure.
The food sector in Greater Lincolnshire is valued at £3.5bn with a particular strength in pre-prepared food. There are 75 large UK/international companies and 4,000 SMEs in the area.
The Northern Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone – £220,000 funding
The funding will support the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership to develop the Northern Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone which aims accelerate development on six sites across three local authorities in northern Derbyshire (Bolsover, North East Derbyshire and Chesterfield). They all have a recognised manufacturing heritage and presence to enable the area to benefit from potential investment associated with the development and maintenance of HS2.
