Up to £220,000 in Government funding will be invested in a new ‘manufacturing zone’, following a successful bid by the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership and local authority partners, it was announced today (January 3).
The D2N2 LEP and partners Bolsover and North East Derbyshire District, Chesterfield Borough and Derbyshire County councils successfully applied to set-up the ‘Northern Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone’. Their application followed Chancellor Philip Hammond’s November 2017 Budget announcement of an East Midlands Manufacturing Zone pilot scheme, with successful applicants set to receive up to £500,000 in Government funding in 2018/19 to establish.
The Northern Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone will be developed to speed up business and housing development on six sites across Bolsover and North East Derbyshire District, and Chesterfield Borough councils’ areas. North Derbyshire already has a manufacturing heritage and expertise, and the Zone is designed to ensure the area fully benefits from the potential investment and growth associated with the development and maintenance of HS2.
In July 2017 Government confirmed its preferred route for the proposed ‘Phase 2b’ line or ‘eastern leg’ of the HS2 high speed rail network; which will run through the D2N2 LEP area. It is set to include an HS2 maintenance depot at Staveley, north Derbyshire, and an East Midlands’ ‘hub’ station at Toton, Nottinghamshire. On the current schedule the HS2 Phase 2b line would open in 2033.
The North Derbyshire Manufacturing Zone will aim to provide greater certainty on planning issues, unlock investment for growth by manufacturing businesses within the zone; and ensure available development land is best used to boost investment and productivity in the area.
Announcing the funding today, Communities Secretary James Brokenshire MP (pictured above) said: “Manufacturing, innovation and trade are at the heart of the East Midlands’ economy, so it is the perfect place for the UK’s first Manufacturing Zones.
“This is another example of how the Government is delivering for the Midlands, with our modern Industrial Strategy backing local businesses and building on local strengths.”
It is estimated that more than 126,000 people in the D2N2 LEP area are employed in the manufacturing sector, a higher concentration than the UK average. Advanced or cutting edge manufacturing is something the LEP is helping to develop, and it is identified as a priority in the refreshed D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan shortly to be launched; which will provide an overview for the area’s future economic development.
For the full Government announcement on the East Midlands Manufacturing Zone pilot scheme see web link HERE.
To learn more about how the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership is promoting its area’s economy see its website at www.d2n2lep.org/Home
Media wanting further information about the D2N2 LEP can contact D2N2 Communications Manager Sean Kirby on 0115 957 8749 or email: sean.kirby@d2n2lep.org
