LEP to submit bid for Worcestershire Enterprise Zone

WORCESTERSHIRE Local Enterprise Partnership is to submit plans to the Government for an ‘Enterprise Zone’ in Kidderminster.

The LEP said it had evaluated eight separate proposals for an EZ but had decided to back the ‘South Kidderminster Business Park’ plan.

In March’s Budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced the locations of 11 Enterprise Zones – including in the Black Country and Birmingham/Solihull – with a further 10 locations to be decided.

The LEP’s plan is centred on a 200-hectare site, including the Stourport Road and Worcester Road employment corridors, which was originally put forward by local business leaders as part of ReWyre regeneration initiative.

The LEP said around 40 hectares of cleared land are available for new development now including the former British Sugar and National Standard sites.

There are currently 5,000 people working within the area and the partnership says a further 4,000 jobs could be created if the EZ was given the green light.

The proposed zone would have a particular focus on manufacturing, it said.

ReWyre chairman Mark Moore said: “At the next ReWyre Board meeting, we will hear more about these exciting developments and we will be sharing the key messages over the coming weeks.

“We are pleased to have the support of the Worcestershire LEP and I am expecting a busy few weeks ahead.

“We will be looking to get businesses and stakeholders together to further understand the potential of the area.”