Enterprise bid could lead to 30,000 jobs

The Northern Echo has been given exclusive details of the eight Tees Valley locations that will be submitted at the end of the month for Government approval.

The plans, drawn up by Tees Valley Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) after consultation with council and business leaders, will be judged against their ability to create large numbers of new jobs without simply tempting businesses to move from elsewhere.

The eight locations proposed by the LEP will comprise a single Tees Valley enterprise zone.

It includes sites in Darlington, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Billingham, Redcar and Cleveland and Hartlepool, and covers emerging industries such as renewable energy, biotechnology, digital and advanced engineering.

Stephen Catchpole, the managing director of Tees Valley Unlimited, said: “Unlike enterprise zones proposed by other parts of the country, ours is not a simple red line drawn around one distinct area, but these eight sites across Tees Valley are joined by the common purpose of driving forward our economic ambitions.”

Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles is overseeing the scheme and could reject one or all of the Tees Valley sites if they fail to meet the necessary criteria.

His decision is expected by the middle of next month.

Chancellor George Osborne announced the creation of 21 new enterprise zones in England in his Budget in March.

The first 11 locations, which will benefit from simplified planning rules, super-fast broadband and business tax breaks, were revealed at the time. Bidding for the remaining ten is open until June 30.

The Tees Valley LEP had planned to unveil the proposed sites at a meeting of its board next Wednesday. However, it decided to release the details ahead of schedule after plans for two of the sites were made public on the Hartlepool Borough Council website.

The bid still needs approval from the board before a twoweek public consultation takes place, when full details will be published on the Tees Valley LEP website.

Mr Catchpole said: “At the heart of this is an attempt to support our industrial base and move it towards greener activities, and also to support the new digital industries.

“One thing we are keen to avoid is displacement where companies just move around and you do not get a net growth in new jobs. We think that the sectors we have chosen will be more likely to avoid that problem.

“Alongside Savilles, our professional advisors, we looked at several sites to make sure those under consideration could deliver on our ambition to drive growth.”

The proposals follow discussions with businesses, landowners and chambers of commerce. A meeting of the LEP board will take place on June 28 before the final bids are submitted to the Government.

The eight sites are: The 10 hectare Darlington Central Park development to create 125 new businesses in the digital and high value engineering sectors and generate 1,000 new jobs over 25 years.

A 22 hectare site on Kirkleatham Industrial Estate, Redcar, to create 300 new renewable energy businesses in the next 15 years, and 12,859 new jobs after 25 years.

A five hectare site on the north shore of the River Tees in Stockton for a hub of 25 new digital businesses to create 1,000 jobs after 25 years.

An 18 hectare site at Belasis Hall, Billingham for 164 new businesses in the biotech sector, aimed at creating 6,566 jobs within 25 years.

Developing the three hectare South West Ironmasters site in Middlesbrough for 25 new advanced engineering firms to create 700 new jobs after 25 years.

The 10 hectare St Hilda's site in Middlesbrough to become home for 125 digital businesses, which it is hoped will bring 1,000 new jobs after 25 years. Two sites in Hartlepool: Queens Meadow Business Park for 300 new biotech and high value engineering business, and 4,200 jobs to be created after 25 years; and a renewables cluster on Oakesway Industrial Estate where 34 new businesses will create 1,441 jobs after 10 years.

Tees Valley Enterprise Zone

Kirkleatham Industrial Estate, Redcar & Cleveland
Renewable energy
• 300 new businesses in 15 years
• 12,859 new jobs after 25 years

North Shore, Stockton
Digital
• 25 new businesses
• 1,000 new jobs after 25 years

Belasis Hall, Billingham
Biotech
• 164 new businesses
• 6,566 jobs within 25 years

South West Ironmasters, Middlesbrough
Advanced engineering
• 700 new jobs after 25 years

St Hilda's, Middlesbrough
Digital
• 1,000 jobs after 25 years

Darlington Central Park
Digital and high value engineering
• 25 new businesses
• 1,000 new jobs after 25 years

Queens Meadow, Hartlepool
Biotech and high value engineering
• 300 new businesses
• 4,200 jobs after 25 years

Oakesway Industrial Estate, Hartlepool
Renewables
• 34 businesses
• 1,441 jobs after 10 years