Funding boost for enterprise zones in Yorkshire

The Government announced yesterday that 17 projects, including new access roads and overhauls of existing office blocks and employments sites, are set to win funding from its £100m enterprise zone investment fund.

The creation of enterprise zones was one of the Government’s flagship regional policies following the 2010 general election, offering tax breaks and other incentives to firms setting up within their borders. There are four across the Yorkshire region.

Yorkshire’s successful projects include two schemes in the Sheffield enterprise zone - a new access road to Sheffield Business Park and investment in the Waverley site - as well as support for the new ‘health hub’ near Leeds, and an overhaul of part of the BAE site in Brough, East Yorkshire.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles said the Government “is putting its money where its mouth is” to ensure the zones have the infrastructure they need.

The news was warmly welcomed across Yorkshire. Sheffield city region local enterprise partnership chairman James Newsman said crucial “barriers to development” such as access and drainage issues would be removed as a result of the investments.

Bridgehouse Capital, which has bought part of the Brough site from BAE, said it plans to “reposition and rebrand the Brough facility as one for multi- occupation for innovative businesses.”

Haltemprice and Howden MP David Davis said: “This funding will help attract new investment into the area, bringing with it new jobs and opportunities for the residents of Brough and the surrounding area.”

XREF leader