November 30: The Yorkshire dividend from York Enterprise Zone announcement

From: Coun Paul Doughty (Conservative), Strensall Ward, City of York Council, York.

WHAT a difference a new administration in York makes. When Labour led the council, James Alexander tried to pull York out of the North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP in favour of his West Yorkshire Labour comrades until he was told by the Government that this wasn’t allowed.

Under a Conservative-led council, York Conservative councillors worked closely with the North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP to lobby the Government for the Chancellor to include York’s massive ‘teardrop site’ in his list of new Enterprise Zones to be announced as part of his Autumn Statement.

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Conservative councillors in York are delighted with the Chancellor’s announcement. Although much work still needs to be done to begin actual development, we believe that Enterprise Zone status will provide the boost the site needs to kick-start its huge potential to deliver both new business and new housing sites for York. We also remain committed to working with all of our neighbours and regional partners of whatever political stripe to deliver the best results for our residents and for Yorkshire as a whole.

From: Roger Marsh, Chairman, Leeds Local Enterprise Partnership.

WE submitted a robust and strong case to government for a second Enterprise Zone in the Leeds City Region and I am delighted to announce this successful bid is one of the 26 new Enterprise Zones announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

The advanced and innovative manufacturing opportunities along the M62 corridor give us a unique offering to potential investors and businesses looking to benefit from the advantages of locating on an Enterprise Zone.

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With the Leeds City Region boasting the largest number of manufacturing jobs in the country, these sites will support the wider manufacturing and logistics sector with up to 100 per cent business rate discount or 100 per cent Enhanced Capital Allowances to businesses making large investment on qualifying plant and machinery costs.

I’m also delighted to see that this latest round of Enterprise Zone announcements included one of our Big Six investment opportunities, York Central, and I hope that this status will help to deliver this fantastic brownfield site that could add £1.1bn to the region’s economy.