Extra £45m for enterprise zone infrastructure

THE Government has committed a further £45m through the Homes and Communities Agency to infrastructure projects within enterprise zones.

It follows a £59m pledge by Chancellor George Osborne in the Autumn Statement.
 
Some 13 zones, which offer businesses rate relief and enhanced capital allowances, stand to benefit from the cash to build service roads, car parking and other infrastructure.

In the North West this includes projects in Halton, Manchester, Ribble Valley and Wirral which has received £5.5m for works to the Wirral Waters site.

Communities secretary Eric Pickles said: “Enterprise Zones are stimulating job creation and economic growth in different parts of the country with their special package of incentives to attractive new business ventures.
 
“The Government is putting its money where its mouth is and making sure Enterprise Zones have the buildings and infrastructure they need to make sites ready for businesses to set up in.
 
“Enterprise zones are proving extremely popular with business. They have already created over 3,000 jobs for local people – a 75% increase in just five months – and many more will be coming down the pipeline because of this new support.”