LEP considers enterprise zone plan
THE enterprise zone earmarked for the Leeds City Region could be split into three or be part of a wider area with relaxed planning rules, under plans being considered by the local enterprise partnership and council leaders.
Leeds City Region was one of the first local enterprise partnerships in the country to be awarded an enterprise zone, new areas created by the Government that will encourage growth through measures including business rate discounts, superfast broadband access and a streamlined planning process.
Work is now underway to choose where the zone should be located and while the Aire Valley is widely considered to be the preferred option, there are concerns in other parts of the region about missing out.
The Government is expecting enterprise zones to be up to 150 hectares in size but the Leeds City Region is considering whether it might be possible to split that into two or three areas in the hope of developing them quicker.
Ministers have said the relaxed planning rules that will apply to enterprise zones could actually be allowed to extend beyond their boundaries. Leeds City Region has floated the idea of creating a ‘two tier’ zone made up of an area with all the benefits of an enterprise zone sitting on a wider piece of land with a streamlined planning process.
However there is concern about the effect this could have on councils through loss of planning fees and funding from Section 106 agreements.
The prospectus sent to LEPs suggests the Government would prefer ‘clean’ sites with little or no occupation to ensure that enterprise zones are used to create new jobs and businesses.
The subject is due to be discussed by council leaders from across the city region today in the wake of the first meeting of the local enterprise partnership board last Tuesday.
A statement released after the meeting confirmed the criteria for choosing the location of the enterprise zone was among the items discussed.
It is thought a proposal will be sent to the Government by the middle of next month.
