Resort seeks Enterprise Zone status to boost local economy

Regeneration chiefs at Scarborough Borough Council have drawn up a formal submission for the town’s 432-acre business park to be designated as one of the Government’s flagship Enterprise Zones.

If granted the Enterprise Zone status, the area would benefit from increased business rate relief and a relaxed planning regime.

Scarborough is seen as one of the key locations to support the world’s largest off-shore wind farm which is due to be built nearly 80 miles off the Yorkshire coast at Dogger Bank to generate up to 10 per cent of the nation’s electricity.

And plans are also being drawn up for a major potash mine centred around the North York Moors, which would create up to 5,000 jobs.

Scarborough and Whitby MP Robert Goodwill has given his backing to the bid, and said: “We have got a lot going for us in Scarborough, and an Enterprise Zone would help attract even more business.

“The potash mine would be a major development, along with the off-shore wind farm industry, and the business park would be the ideal base to provide the necessary support.

“A lot of the infrastructure is already in place, such as roads, fibre-optics and brownfield land. An Enterprise Zone would drive forward business and help safeguard the town’s existing economy.”

The business park is already home to more than 100 firms including McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, Plaxton and Legrand Electric.

The council has worked with Caddick Developments to invest £10m in the business park in recent years.

Nearly 220 acres of land has been earmarked for future development to help bring in further enterprise.

It is understood that the Scarborough submission will be up against rival bids centred on York and Selby.

However, the York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership can only select one bid to progress for Enterprise Zone status.