The North West looks set to get its biggest jobs boost in decades after Government confirmation that Blackpool is to get its first enterprise zone. Greater Manchester’s Enterprise Zone is also being expanded by 55 acres.
Announced in the Budget, and immediately welcomed by political and business leaders across the region, property experts are claiming the Blackpool zone — to be created on the town’s former airport — illustrates the “potential and ambition” behind the Northern Powerhouse.
“This heightened focus on Blackpool proves that a ‘super north initiative’ is not simply about elevating the status of our major northern cities, but realising the potential of the wider regions,” commented Richard Bell, a senior partner in Deloitte’s North West office.
“Enterprise zones have a strong track record of driving local employment prospects and research and development investment in their areas, as well as supporting both new and expanding businesses.”
Bell claimed the significance of both the Blackpool and Manchester zones was the “strengthened connectivity” they would bring. “The prospect of improving transport links and investing in the area’s business and education facilities is in line with the plans for a unified North,” he said. “Linking up some of its most exciting local economies to create the ‘powerhouse’ we’ve been promised.”
The Chancellor’s go-ahead will also allow Manchester’s existing enterprise zone to grow from 116 acres to more than 170 acres. It is also expected to match the 3,000 new jobs the Blackpool zone will generate.
Three city schemes will gain an immediate benefit from the enterprise zone expansion. The 200-acre Medipark will get an extra 161,400 sq ft of business space across four sites. Airport City South will get more than a quarter-of-a-million square feet of additional logistics space. And Airport City North will be allowed to expand by 11,000 sq ft.
“Manchester Airport and Airport City are vital economic anchors for Greater Manchester, as is the University Hospital of South Manchester and Medipark,” explained the leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese. “This expansion will support our wider growth strategy by helping attract further investment and new jobs.”
Tim Newns is chief executive of MIDAS, Manchester’s inward investment agency. “It is clear that our enterprise zone is a huge draw for the region, attracting significant investment from priority markets such as the United States, China and Europe,” he said.
“The announcement that the zone is expanding therefore comes as excellent news and will undoubtedly bolster our efforts to secure long term investment into Greater Manchester.”
