Enterprise zone plan after BAE cuts

BROUGH could be the site of a new enterprise zone following BAE’s decision to cut hundreds of jobs at its East Yorkshire site.

Chancellor George Osborne has floated the idea of developing new enterprise zones around BAE sites in Lancashire and Yorkshire hit by the company’s decision to make around 3,000 workers redundant.

Mr Osborne said the plan’s details had yet to be finalised but it was hoped the new zones could be in place by April.

It was not immediately clear how the Brough proposals would impact on the enterprise zone which is already being established on both sides of the Humber and is aimed at attracting the renewable energy industry to the area.

The proposals are also likely to be questioned by areas that missed out in the formal process for allocating enterprise zones earlier this year.

Humber LEP chairman John Clugston said: “We welcome the Chancellor’s announcement that the Humber LEP will be asked to come forward with additional Enterprise Zone proposals.

“Enterprise Zones give businesses extra incentives to invest in an area. Our existing Enterprise Zone is one of the most ambitious in the country and will help the Humber to become a centre for renewable energy.

“We will be discussing what form our new proposals should take with Government and local partners in the coming days.”

BAE said it needed to cut 900 jobs at Brough, 822 at Warton, and 565 at Samlesbury last week in order to remain competitive.