Enterprise zone shortlists revealed

THE Leeds and Sheffield City Region local enterprise partnerships have unveiled their shortlists for the location of new enterprise zones this week.

Enterprise zones are a Government initiative that allow local enterprise partnerships to identify areas that can enjoy a range of benefits including business rate discounts, a simpler planning region and access to superfast broadband.

Both the Leeds and Sheffield City Regions have been told they will host an enterprise zone and now the process is underway to choose locations before submitting final plans to the Government.

The Leeds LEP board has shortlisted:

• Aire Valley, Leeds
• Bradford city centre
• Selby
• Wakefield M62 Corridor

LEP board chairman Neil McLean said: “The board had an excellent, lively and constructive debate about the merits of the enterprise zone proposals.

“Rather than rush to judgement before the enterprise zone comes into force next April, the board are making sure that the decision is the right one, based on sound information and private sector scrutiny. I’m happy that we’re on track to deliver an enterprise zone that will produce real results from April 2012 and will benefit the whole of the Leeds City Region.”

The Sheffield LEP board has shortlisted seven sites:

• Bassetlaw – A 110 hectare site to the south of Harworth on junction 34 of the A1M.
• Courthouse Campus, Barnsley – A 4.28 hectare site close to Barnsley town centre.
• Chesterfield Waterside – A 25 hectare brownfield site on the edge of Chesterfield town centrer.
• Dearne M1 corridor – a series of sites totalling over 100 hectares
• Markham Vale – a 80-hectare employment site on the M1 corridor
• The Modern Manufacturing Priority Area – straddles the borders of Sheffield and Rotherham
• Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield Business Park – A 91 hectare site.

LEP chairman James Newman said:  “We invited submissions from across the Sheffield City Region by the deadline of 13 May, and the LEP Board will how consider those received with a view to making a final decision by the end of the month.

“This is a huge opportunity for the Sheffield City Region to maximise the economic growth that an enterprise zone will stimulate and in considering proposals the LEP board will ensure it is focussed on zones that will bring the most benefit to the Sheffield City Region as a whole, as well as meeting the Government’s requirements.”