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Enterprise Zones to include Solent
The Government has revealed the locations for new Enterprise Zones in England to try to boost economic growth, including the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus Airfield, Gosport.
Ministers said 30,000 new jobs would be created across all the zones by 2015, by giving cheaper business rates, superfast broadband and lower levels of planning control. Plans for 21 nationwide zones were originally set out in March’s Budget. Bids to host one of the zones were submitted by 30 local groups, made up of council and business leaders.
Prime minister 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.”
Jim Davison, south east region director for EEF, which represents manufacturers, said: ”The announcement will provide a boost to Gosport and any measures to remove barriers to private sector growth with lower tax levels, a reduced planning regime, a lighter regulatory and administrative burden are welcome for business.
”Enterprise zones should ultimately be a small part of the government’s growth efforts. We
Luxury reaches the treetops
Award-winning planning consultancy Terence O’Rourke is helping one of the world’s top hotels add unique and luxurious tree house suites to its accommodation, the likes of which have never been seen before in the UK.
Bournemouth-based Terence O’Rourke has completed the complex task of gaining planning permission from New Forest District Council for the project at Chewton Glen, having been brought in to oversee the project due to the difficult nature of the planning.
The tree house suites will be secluded lodges set in the woodland area of Chewton Glen’s 130-acre grounds. Supported on stilts and their balconies level with the trees, they will appear to float across the wooded valley. The individual suites will provide private accommodation for guests who wish to enjoy the facilities and luxury of the five-star hotel while staying a little further away from the main building.
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2011
Bridget Pearce, technical director at Terence O’Rourke, said: ”This is a unique project because normally you would expect to see development associated with the hotel sitting close to the main building whereas this is pushing into an environment that is untouched: it is within the green belt, on the edge of the New Forest National Park and is an area of high ecological value containing belts of important trees.”
The consultancy worked closely with the hotel and designers of the tree house suites, Blue Forest, to identify the key problems associated with the project and deliver a solution that
would ensure plans would be approved without having to go through a costly enquiry process. The company’s planning, architectural and environmental teams took an integrated approach, tailoring plans and original designs to create something that would have low impact visually in the environment while creating a unique guest experience.
”Everything is being done to limit the impact on the environment not just in physical terms, but also for sustainability,” added Pearce.
The suites are scheduled to open next summer.
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still need wider reforms to bring down the burden of taxes and regulation and to make it easier for companies to find the finance and skills they need to grow.”
Added Fay Webster, regional director of ICAEW (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales): ”To make Enterprise Zones work they need to be supported by the local community and should not be a direct threat to existing commercial areas. They are also not the only solution to encouraging new jobs and growth. There is a growing urgency to getting effective business support working and helping drive growth. Local Enterprise Partnerships need to start delivering. There is a danger that the lack of clarity around their roles and funding is leading to delay and indecision.”
The Enterprise Zones’ announcement followed another giving details of a rural broadband boost for areas in England and Scotland, which have been allocated nearly £363 million to improve their broadband connections. Cumbria receives the largest share of the £530m funding, with more than £17m to cope with its 96.2% ’not-spots’, whereas London gets nothing as it assumed that private investment will cover all parts of the capital. Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will receive £8,420,000, while West Sussex is in line for £6,260,000.
The funding, announced by culture secretary Jeremy Hunt, is part of the government’s drive to ensure that 90% of homes and businesses have access to superfast broadband by 2015.
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