A significant investment, expected to be around £25 million, was announced in Nottingham today after Mark Prisk, Local Growth Minister at the Department for Communities and Local Government, confirmed the first major project for the Nottingham Enterprise Zone (NEZ).
Mark Prisk said: I’m delighted to see the Nottingham Enterprise Zone get underway, demonstrating how the public and private sectors can work together to create a stronger future for UK business and local industry. The new Enterprise Zone is set to become a firm stronghold for UK PLC right in the heart of England, with the support it brings for new businesses creating jobs and boosting growth across the country.”
To mark the launch of the deal, Nottingham City Council leader Councillor, Jon Collins, met with Alex Gourlay, Chief Executive, Health & Beauty Division, Alliance Boots, who confirmed the Group’s aspirations for the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, including a significant financial kick-start for the project.
The proposal for the Alliance Boots Beeston site project consists of collaborative investments from Alliance Boots; D2N2, the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP); the Department of Communities and Local Government with part of that investment coming via the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Today’s announcement will result in the redevelopment of site infrastructure, including land preparation and remediation activities, to help ready it for commercial use. The programme will also include a number of public infrastructure works.
The works, subject to ongoing discussions in respect of detailed specifications and necessary planning approvals, will commence during 2013, providing job opportunities for local communities across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Proposed improvements to the site are expected to further strengthen its position as a centre for innovation and product development in the health, beauty and wellness sphere, and help to attract new businesses to the Nottingham area.
Speaking at the launch, Councillor Collins said: “It is 20 months since the Prime Minister announced the Enterprise Zone status for this site and we have spent that time working with partners to secure today’s very significant funding package. Regeneration, economic growth and stability are absolute priorities for Nottingham City Council and today’s news demonstrates very clearly our plans are working. When we launched the Nottingham Growth Plan in July, we set out a very clear direction for the economy and how it would be achieved by working closely in partnership with the public and private sector. It is this type of partnership which has brought forward this investment.”
Mr Peter Richardson, chairman of D2N2, the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Enterprise Partnership, echoed Mr Collins view. He added: “We have assembled a powerful business and local government alliance and I‘m confident our vision to make this area one of the strongest and most prosperous economic regions in the UK will be achieved. There will be an immediate, positive effect on the jobs market in this area as preparation and remediation work gets underway.”
Welcoming the news, Councillor Kay Cutts, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council said: “This is truly fantastic news and I am confident that when we reveal more on the true scale of plans for Nottingham Enterprise Zone this region will quickly become a hot spot for investment.”
Broxtowe Borough Council Leader, Milan Radulovic, said: “We welcome this long awaited announcement and look forward to working with Alliance Boots to bring about the regeneration of this site and the creation of much needed employment opportunities.”
