New Enterprise Zones Announced

The location of eleven new Enterprise Zones, designed to boost local growth and create over 30,000 new jobs by 2015, were announced today by the Prime Minister, David Cameron, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, and the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles.

At the March 2011 Budget the Government announced 11 Enterprise Zones in the country's largest cities, including Manchester, Birmingham, Merseyside and Newcastle, as well as inviting applications for 10 more in other areas.

Based on the strength of the applications this invitation was increased to 11. This brings the total to 22 Enterprise Zones across the country, helping to create thousands of new jobs by 2015. The Zones will attract hundreds of new start up firms, with simplified planning rules, super-fast broadband and over £150 million tax breaks for new businesses over the next 4 years.

The 11 new Enterprise Zones will be located in:

• Gosport;
• Rotherwas in Hereford;
• Discovery Park in Sandwich, Kent and Harlow;
• Science Vale UK in Oxfordshire;
• Alconbury Airfield, near Huntingdon;
• Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, and Lowestoft in Suffolk;
• Northampton Waterside;
• Hinckley Leicestershire;
• Humber Estuary;
• and Daresbury Science Campus in Warrington.

David Cameron said:

'We are determined to do everything we can to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Enterprise Zones are a major step towards delivering this; cutting business taxes, easing planning restrictions and giving business the tools they need to invest and expand.

'These new Enterprise Zones will be trailblazers for growth, jobs and prosperity throughout the country.'

George Osborne said:

'It is vital that we create balanced economic growth across the country. It is time for us to help every part of the country to grow and realise its potential.

'Enterprise Zones are a critical part of our Plan for Growth and will support economic development and create over 30,000 new jobs by 2015. The zones will benefit from over £150 million in tax breaks over 4 years, new superfast broadband, lower levels of planning control and the potential to use enhanced capital allowances.'