Hereford Enterprise Zone

On 17th August 2011 the Prime Minister announced that Hereford had been awarded Enterprise Zone status at the Rotherwas Estate.  The site was nominated by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, which includes Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire, and the bid was developed by the Herefordshire Business Board.

The 61.5 ha site, which includes three distinct but linked development areas at the South Magazine, North Magazine and Chapel Road, already benefits from the new Rotherwas Access road, completed in June 2008, giving the estate quick and easy access to the A49, M50 and the rest of the motorway network.  New internal access roads to the North and South Magazines have recently been completed and site clearance is ongoing in preparation for future development to begin as early as mid 2012.  The new Enterprise Zone is also strategically placed within an hour and half drive of the international airports at Birmingham, Bristol and Cardiff. 

An Enterprise Zone Board has already been created and is chaired by Ray Stone, former Managing Director of Wiggins Special Metals who is also vice-chair of the Herefordshire Business Board.  The Board is tasked over the next few months with developing governance procedures and the production of a masterplan.  There is an aspiration to develop part of the site into a centre of excellence for defence and security sector with additional employment hubs focused on advanced technologies, environmental technologies and food and drink technologies.

Enterprise Zone status offers a range of benefits to businesses located on the site, including relief on business rates up to a maximum of £275,000 over a five year period, relaxation and fast tracking of the planning process and provision of improved infrastructure such as superfast broadband. It is predicted that the scheme will become a catalyst for enhanced economic growth throughout the Marches through the creation of highly skilled jobs and encouragement of overseas investment into the area. 

Further contacts

If you would like to further discuss the Enterprise Zone scheme then please contact Nick Webster (Economic Development Manager) on 01432 260601 or email nwebster@herefordshire.gov.uk

Any businesses wishing to discuss the potential site opportunities of locating within the zone can contact Ian Higgs (Development Manager – Property Services) on 01432 261569 or email ihiggs@herefordshire.gov.uk

If you would like to be kept up to date with news and announcements regarding the Enterprise Zone then please send you contact details to the Economic Development team at economicinvestment@herefordshire.gov.uk or call 01432 261758.