In the recent round of identification and designation of new Enterprise Zones (EZ) – announced by Chancellor Osborne at the end of the last month - there are no fewer than 15 locations in Cambridgeshire, Suffolk and Norfolk. One of which, Haverhill Research Park, is claimed by Cambridge but is actually in Suffolk. All of which, to varying degrees, property agents in the patch have substantial interests either directly as an appointed advisor to the development or an occupier seeking premises or, indirectly, in working for the owners or current or potential occupiers on nearby sites, estates or Parks in the pipeline or already established.
The LEPs in this region – the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership which delivered the 5 sites which comprise the Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zone area and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership which succeeded in not only making the case for creating 10 new EZs in Suffolk and Norfolk under the Space to Innovate banner, but also in the extension of the current Great Yarmouth & Lowestoft (New Anglia) Enterprise Zone – have done more than a fine job in achieving these zones in the region.
Coming together in partnership with business and other local interests, these LEPs have successfully navigated the labyrinthian corridors of Whitehall to make the regional and local business cases to the national civil servants and government advisors who hold the purse strings when it comes to the creation of EZs and other sources of central funding.
Anyone who has ever tendered for projects involving public money – whether professionally, many agents have dedicated teams to work in public sector projects and those which have to access public funds, or in a more civic or social role – can have nothing but praise for what the LEPs have pulled off for the eastern region.
But the plaudits shouldn’t stop there. Because while each LEP’s remit and accountability extends to its own area, technically, collectively the emphasis of each of the new EZs in playing to the attributes of each locale forms a chain of EZs which gives a complete picture of our region.
For instance, two new EZ locations in rural north Norfolk will have energy and the low carbon sectors in their sights. Whereas, one in King’s Lynn has agri-tech and food production at its core. Equally, some of the new EZs in Suffolk play to the strengths of the ports and the A14 in positioning logistics and the supply-chain sectors.
The Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zones gives 5 former fringe locations a chance to capitalise on the ‘Cambridge effect’ in terms of employment opportunities with 2 – Cambourne Business Park and Northstowe Phase 1 pointing the way forward in co-locating homes and jobs.
These new EZs come in to effect in spring next year (2016) and while I am no archetype Pollyanna, I welcome the way these will help point a way forward for this region which is far from inward looking in having Felixstowe port as the gateway to the rest of the world.
The LEPs in this region – the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership which delivered the 5 sites which comprise the Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zone area and the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership which succeeded in not only making the case for creating 10 new EZs in Suffolk and Norfolk under the Space to Innovate banner, but also in the extension of the current Great Yarmouth & Lowestoft (New Anglia) Enterprise Zone – have done more than a fine job in achieving these zones in the region.
Coming together in partnership with business and other local interests, these LEPs have successfully navigated the labyrinthian corridors of Whitehall to make the regional and local business cases to the national civil servants and government advisors who hold the purse strings when it comes to the creation of EZs and other sources of central funding.
Anyone who has ever tendered for projects involving public money – whether professionally, many agents have dedicated teams to work in public sector projects and those which have to access public funds, or in a more civic or social role – can have nothing but praise for what the LEPs have pulled off for the eastern region.
But the plaudits shouldn’t stop there. Because while each LEP’s remit and accountability extends to its own area, technically, collectively the emphasis of each of the new EZs in playing to the attributes of each locale forms a chain of EZs which gives a complete picture of our region.
For instance, two new EZ locations in rural north Norfolk will have energy and the low carbon sectors in their sights. Whereas, one in King’s Lynn has agri-tech and food production at its core. Equally, some of the new EZs in Suffolk play to the strengths of the ports and the A14 in positioning logistics and the supply-chain sectors.
The Cambridge Compass Enterprise Zones gives 5 former fringe locations a chance to capitalise on the ‘Cambridge effect’ in terms of employment opportunities with 2 – Cambourne Business Park and Northstowe Phase 1 pointing the way forward in co-locating homes and jobs.
These new EZs come in to effect in spring next year (2016) and while I am no archetype Pollyanna, I welcome the way these will help point a way forward for this region which is far from inward looking in having Felixstowe port as the gateway to the rest of the world.
Will Mooney MRICS
Partner
Commercial, Cambridge
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