Hereford Enterprise Zone scheme to go ahead after injection of European cash

A DEVELOPMENT offering high quality business space, workshops and flexible units is to be built at Hereford Enterprise Zone.

More than £655,000 of European funding has been granted to the £1.8m Skylon Court project, which is designed to offer flexible accommodation for growing companies, including offices and studio workspace.

Hereford Council will fund the remainder of the development at Skylon Park, Rotherwas, which comprises ten new business units, all of 1,100 sq ft.

The development is expected to create at least 45 jobs.

Mark Pearce, managing director of the zone, said: “There is a clear and current demand for small employment units such as the ones which will be available at Skylon Court. The building will not only offer office space, but also workshop and studio areas – giving tenants the flexibility to use the space as they need.

“Our research has shown that there is limited current supply of units like this in the Hereford area and so Skylon Court will fulfil some element of untapped demand.

“The significant investments from both Hereford Council and the European Regional Development Fund means we will be in a position to offer self-contained state-of-the-art business space in a high profile location to companies as early as January 2015.”

Skylon Court, designed by architects Howl Associates, will be built on the corner of the Straight Mile and Coldnose Road.

Tony Johnson, leader of of Herefordshire Council, said: “Skylon Court offers flexible business space which will see further employment opportunities created.

Our investment, as well as the grant from the ERDF, is helping to drive not only the development of the zone, but the economic growth of our county and supporting the creation of sustainable private sector jobs.”

Skylon Park is the 72-hectare site designated as the Enterprise Zone of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, the private sector-led organisation tasked with revitalising the economy of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

The majority of the land in the Zone – 80% – is owned by Herefordshire Council with the remainder owned by the Goodwin Trust.