Projects

Hereford Enterprise Zone

In August 2011 Hereford was awarded Enterprise Zone status for a 61.5 ha site at Rotherwas Estate.  The site includes three distinct but linked development areas at the South Magazine, North Magazine and Chapel Road, which already benefit from the new Rotherwas Access road completed in June 2008, as well as new internal access roads to the North and South Magazines. Site clearance has been ongoing in preparation for future development to begin as early as mid 2012. 

An Enterprise Zone Board has already been created and will be chaired by local businessman Ray Stone, 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 master plan.  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 advanced engineering, environmental technologies and technology orientated food and drink processing.

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 super-fast broadband. It is predicted that the scheme will become a catalyst for enhanced economic growth in the Marches through the creation of highly skilled jobs and encouragement of overseas investment into the area. 

Expanding the Hereford City Centre

Stanhope PLC is developing the site of the former Livestock Market in Hereford which, when complete in 2013, will include a department store, six screen digital ODEON cinema, Waitrose food store and a variety of shops and restaurants. The £80m development is fully funded by the private sector. Granted planning consent in March 2011, the scheme will provide more than 1,100 new jobs for the city and act as a catalyst for future investment in the area. Demolition will start shortly with all shops and restaurants open in 2013. For more information please see http://www.herefordfutures.co.uk/

Leominster Enterprise Park

Leominster Enterprise Park is becoming the major employment location within northern Herefordshire and was developed by Advantage West Midlands in collaboration with the Council. The scheme involved constructing a new access road and bridge from the A49 trunk road into the estate to open up and release approximately 12ha of new land for employment use. Fully serviced plots are from 0.5 to 1 acre in size, and are available for sale on a long lease. Speculative building development has made a range of offices and workshops available for immediate occupancy, including a Rural Enterprise Hub owned by Evans Easyspace and constructed with support from the Rural Regeneration Zone. The agent for the site is Pooks, who can be contacted on 01743 276633. Details of available accommodation anywhere in Herefordshire can be found through our Property Register service, accessible from the menu under Economic Regeneration.

Model Farm, Ross-on-Wye

Model Farm is a well located proposed ten hectare employment park on the edge of Ross-on-Wye aimed to attract knowledge/science based companies looking to locate in an attractive rural setting but still close to the M50 motorway.

The plan is to augment the towns existing vibrant industrial estates with a complementary high-tech offer. The intention is to develop the site as a quality, environmentally friendly and sustainable employment area for a mix of Planning Use Class B1, B2 and B8.  It is hoped to have a strong bias towards B1 (offices, research & development and light industry) and possibly an area for start up businesses, although this will be partly dependent on demand.

The principle of development has already been approved and a planning application has been submitted for the proposed infrastructure works. The Council is keen to encourage innovative building designs, to good sustainable standards and is also looking for a development partner to take the project forward.

For further information on any of these projects please contact the Team on 01432 261758, email economicinvestment@herefordshire.gov.uk, or at:
Economic Development Team
Herefordshire Council
PO BOX 4
Plough Lane
Hereford
HR4 0XH