By Lucy Phillips |31 May 2011
The competition to become one of the next ten enterprise zones has begun, with 29 council and business partnerships vying for their area to be chosen.
Chancellor George Osborne announced the creation of 21 new English enterprise zones in the March Budget. The first 11 locations were revealed at the time and bidding for the remaining ten has now opened.
The zones will benefit from simplified planning rules, super-fast broadband and business tax breaks in an attempt to boost regional growth.
Application forms were sent out last week to the 29 existing or prospective Local Enterprise Partnerships that have expressed interest in becoming an enterprise zone. The bids, due to be submitted to ministers by June 30, will be judged against their ability to deliver growth and jobs and their value for money. The sites are not expected to contain many existing businesses.
Local Government Secretary Eric Pickles said: ‘I’m delighted by how many areas have put themselves forward, but only the best applications will get a zone. To succeed they must be ambitious for jobs, committed to reducing the barriers to enterprise and eager to create a springboard for growth.’
‘Enterprise zones will transform 21 under-utilised parts of the country into business magnets attracting new companies to the area with tax breaks and simplified planning regimes.’
LEPs competing for the second wave of locations include Coventry & Warwickshire, Greater Birmingham & Solihull, Leicester & Leicestershire, Southeast Midlands and Stoke & Staffordshire. Hull & Humberside and Swindon, two new LEPs being set up, are also likely to put forward proposals.
Following the enterprise zone announcement in the Budget, there were warnings that LEPs would be tested to their limit as they strived to be enterprise zones.
