Enterprise zones

Within the South East Midlands area, we have two Enterprise Zones: Northampton EZ and London Luton Airport EZ. Incentives are offered to businesses that locate onto a Zone including business rate relief or enhanced capital allowances. EZs unlock key development sites and business rates generated by EZs are used by the Local Enterprise Partnership and Local Authority to reinvest in local economic growth. SEMLEP’s Enterprise Zones report directly into SEMLEP’s Board. 

In 2011 SEMLEP received government backing to launch the Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone and regenerate nearly 120 hectares of brownfield land along the town’s river front.  This has helped to transform a large area of previously under-developed land in Northampton and has, to date, attracted £320million of private sector investment.

19 regeneration projects are complete, including:

• Construction of the new Northampton railway station
• Building of the 6-storey University of Northampton Innovation Centre
• The development of One Angel Square, the low-carbon office building occupied by Northamptonshire County Council
• The new North Gate bus station
• Redevelopment of the former Phipps Albion Brewery site, bringing the Phipps heritage back to the area
• Creation of a new facility by performance engineering specialists, Cosworth

A total of 2689 jobs have been created in the area as well as 53 new businesses (cumulative total to June 2017).

For full details about the Enterprise Zone, including benefits for business, including rate relief and business support visit the Northampton EZ website.

Luton Borough Council in partnership with SEMLEP and London Luton Airport Limited is leading the London Luton Airport Enterprise Zone development. The site will attract businesses from aerospace, engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors, specialist airline support and operations services and associated leisure, hotel and catering businesses. The EZ will create over 7,200 jobs, with 10,000 additional jobs as a result of the redevelopment.

The Enterprise Zone is made up of three sites surrounding or connected to London Luton Airport:

• New Century Park: On the doorstep of the UK’s fifth largest airport, and within easy reach of excellent transport links to both London and the North, a proposal includes the construction of a new access road.
• Airport Business Park: London Luton Airport is planning to build a Direct Air to Rail Transit system (Luton DART) to service London Luton Airport. This will encourage passengers to travel to and from the airport via a more sustainable mean of transport. The DART system is scheduled to become operational by 2021.
• Bartlett Square: A planning application for 2.5 acres of commercial development, next to Luton Airport Parkway Station has been announced.

For more information visit Think Luton or London Luton Airport.