Growth Fund backs Haribo and airport link road

AN £18m project to build a new link road to Robin Hood Airport was among the successful Yorkshire bids to the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, announced this week.

Plans for an expansion of Haribo’s West Yorkshire operation, new housing in Wakefield and Hull, a project to improve energy efficiency in industry and a new wind turbine research centre were also among the Yorkshire bidders to receive a share of £450m made available nationally in the Fund’s first round.

The Government said the Yorkshire projects, which have received a total of £47m of backing, would themselves create or safeguard more than 7,600 jobs and a further 2,700 indirectly.

However, a range of schemes in the region missed out including bids for funding from Team Humber Marine Alliance, a proposal to build a new transport interchange in Castleford and a project to create new office and retail space in Bradford.

The £18m Gateway to the Sheffield City Region project will see the building of the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme linking Robin Hood Airport and the M18, as well as the development of the Strategic Rail Freight Interchange project and the reclamation of Rossington Colliery.

Nigel Brewster, Doncaster Chamber president and member of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) board, said: “Improving access to the airport will have a transformative effect on the whole city region and the significance of this announcement cannot be overstated.

“The LEP itself is only a few months old and we are pleased to chalk this up as an early win.”

Peel Airports chief executive Craig Richmond added: “This is tremendous news and will help to bring this vital link between the motorway network and the airport one step nearer and benefiting the future potential for growth in both passenger and freight services at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.”

Funds from the Regional Growth Fund will also be used to support the expansion of sweet maker Haribo’s Pontefract operation as it looks to build a new Normanton plant.

Herwig Vennekens, managing director of Haribo Dunhills (Pontefract), said: “This funding will allow Haribo to expand the UK based business through a new West Yorkshire facility that will create an estimated 286 new jobs.

“Our plans will complement our existing factory in Pontefract, safeguarding 478 positions and reinforcing our continued commitment to the region whilst supporting the growth and long term strategy of Haribo in the UK.”

Wakefield Council has secured more than £8m from the Fund to complete housing-led regeneration schemes in the south-east of the city and Featherstone. The authority hopes it will attract a further £70m from private developers.

Neil McLean, chairman of the Leeds City Region LEP, said: “This is a great success for the Partnership and the city region economy. Attracting significant Government funding in one of the city region’s growth and regeneration priority areas will boost economic growth and create new jobs.

“The Partnership’s strategic approach to the bidding process has paid off and we will continue to provide support throughout the next round in order to ensure that city region businesses and the economy benefit as much as possible from the Fund.”

Keepmoat Homes will receive money to kickstart the Gateway Hull regeneration scheme that will see the construction of 1,338 new and 137 refurbished homes.

David Brown Gear Systems, in Huddersfield ,will use £2m of RGF money to build a new R&D centre looking at ways of improving gearbox reliability and durability in wind turbines.

 Ian Farquhar, managing Director for wind energy at David Brown, said: “David Brown has a clear growth strategy, developed around expanding in key global markets including renewable industries such as wind and solar. 

“We are delighted to have been awarded a Regional Growth Fund for our development. 

“We have worked very closely with the University of Huddersfield, the economic development team at Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and Kirklees Council to ensure that the centre will drive engineering innovation in Yorkshire and develop relevant, long-standing intellectual property alongside the delivery of academic support.”

The Carbon Trust will use RGF money to encourage greater energy efficiency in the dairy, bakery and animal feed sectors in Yorkshire.

Bradford-based Deafinitions Ltd will produce health resources suitable for deaf people, employing and training deaf people in DVD production.

The £1.4bn Regional Growth Fund was created by the Government as part of its overhaul of regional economic development that also saw the abolition of regional development agencies.

Applications open today for the second round of the Fund which is designed to support the growth of the private sector in areas that have previously depended on public spending.