Enterprise zones in line for £60m boost to aid growth

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said yesterday the money would boost regional economies throughout England as he told local leaders it was time for them “to take up the gauntlet of growth”.

The establishment of more than 20 enterprise zones within different regions of England was one of the Government’s flagship economic policies when it came to power in 2010, offering tax incentives and simplified planning rules as well as superfast broadband in localised areas, in a bid to attract new businesses.

There are four enterprise zones within Yorkshire – one in the Leeds city region, one in Sheffield and two in the Humber area.

Local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) in those areas will be able to bid for a share of the new £59m fund to improve the infrastructure within the zones.

Mr Pickles said the announcement would allow successful bidders to turn “shovel-ready sites into job-ready sites”.

He said: “Economic growth is this Government’s biggest priority, and enterprise zones are the engine room of that strategy. This new £59m fund will turbo-charge that engine.

“Enterprise zones have all the raw ingredients and growth incentives they need to translate their potential into jobs... It is time for enterprise zones to take up the gauntlet of growth.”

The new fund is part of the £470m investment in infrastructure announced by Chancellor George Osborne in his autumn statement, and was welcomed by LEP leaders around the region.

The chairman of the Sheffield City Region LEP, James Newman, said: “We want to make it as straightforward as possible for businesses to move onto our zone, and we hope this fund will make it easier for us to do that.

“We have been listening to potential business investors and enterprise zone landowners, who are calling for more ready-made premises to be available.”