D2N2 has welcomed today’s (July 1) announcement by Boots UK that civil engineering company CA Blackwell has been awarded the contract to carry out public works on its site in Beeston, within the Nottingham Enterprise Zone.
The works will include the creation of a new highway and bridge across the Beeston Canal to link to the A52. As part of the first phase, remediation works will be carried out to ready the site for development and marketing. Initial works are expected to start later this year.
In March 2011, the Boots site in Beeston, Nottingham, was awarded Enterprise Zone status by the UK Government. Enterprise Zones are designated areas with incentives to encourage the creation of new businesses, which will contribute to the growth of local and national economies.
Boots Enterprise Zone as seen from above
The Nottingham Enterprise Zone is comprised of part of the Boots site in Beeston and three other smaller sites – the Beeston Business Park, the Nottingham Science Park and the MediPark site (at Queens Medical Centre) which together make up 286 acres (116 hectares). The D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership – a collaboration between business, local authorities, skills and training providers, and community groups – works to promote economic growth across Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire; including through significant investment in the Enterprise Zone.
Ken Murphy, Executive Vice President of Walgreens Boots Alliance and President of Global Brands, said: “This contract award is an important step in the development on our site as part of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone. Our long term ambition is for the site to be an integral part in the future development, not just of Nottingham, but of the UK, as a leader in health and beauty innovation and excellence.”
David Ralph, Chief Executive of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “As a funding partner of this Enterprise Zone site, we welcome this important next step. Life sciences is a key business sector for both the City and D2N2, and an increasingly important employer locally.”
Councillor Jon Collins, Leader of Nottingham City Council, commented: “These works are the key to unlocking significant potential for the city. A lot of work has been taking place behind the scenes for several years, and it’s good to reach this milestone. The Enterprise Zone, along with all the investment in the city’s infrastructure over the past few years, helps us to position Nottingham as a key destination for high-growth business, with all the benefits this brings to local residents through jobs and a strong economy. It also builds on our success so far in developing the life sciences sector.”
For more information on this press release contact Bethan Simmons, Boots UK, on 0115 959 1188 or Bethan.Simmons@boots.co.uk.
Media wanting further information about the D2N2 LEP can contact Sean Kirby, Communications Officer, on the D2N2 Newsdesk, on 0115 9578749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
