Harlow - Latest developments
Enterprise West Essex @ Harlow
The Government has selected Harlow as one of ten further flagship areas for business growth, giving the green light to ambitious plans to create a new 126-acre enterprise zone with the potential to create up to 5,000 new jobs.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is giving Harlow Enterprise Zone status following ambitious proposals put forward by Harlow Council and the West Essex Alliance.
At the heart of Harlow's plans is the vision for a medical technology, advanced manufacturing and other high tech company cluster on two major areas of land in the town. They are:
· A 57-acre mixed use site at London road, including the former Nortel campus and land to its north.
· The 69-acre industrial area covering the north eastern corner of Templefields.
Both sites are designated as employment land and are owned by a small number of private companies who have supported the EZ application. The Harlow plan has the backing of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which covers all of Essex, Kent, and parts of Sussex.
There are four major benefits to the new EZ status.
1) Companies will not be required to pay business rates during the first five years of the established EZ. The South East LEP will be able to keep the additional business rates generated from companies setting up inside the new zone after five years, for the next 25 years - creating a potential £multi-million investment fund for the area.
2) The official designation will bring forward plans for the County Council to provide new road measures including additional traffic lights and access road improvements from the A414 to the London Road site and a new link from Templefields to the Cambridge Road (A1184), to provide easier access in and out of the Templefields area.
3) Enterprise zone status also allows for a relaxation of planning laws to promote growth and attract companies to create jobs in the area . The EZ will act as a catalyst for the development of an emerging cluster of companies, creating jobs and further supporting the unlocking the potential of the town.
4) The Government will support the creation of superfast broadband within the EZ.
Harlow Council projects that a total of 4,900 jobs could be created from both sites, based on the amount of available land for development and the number of companies it hopes to attract.
Harlow is already home to high profile names like Bupa Home Healthcare, GlaxoSmithKline, Clement Clark, Raytheon and Pitney Bowes and the EZ will help the town to attract more companies like these and those who wish to support them and the market space they occupy.
More than half of the scientific research and development companies in Essex are based in Harlow and medical technology and health-related businesses alone employs more than 6,000 people in the town.
Councillor Andrew Johnson, leader of Harlow Council, said: “This Government backing is a great boost for Harlow during these difficult times and shows Harlow is most definitely open for business. Harlow already has a great name in technology and is superbly placed between London and Cambridge, with all the road, rail and air links any company could want. We want to attract and retain businesses in Harlow and support them in their growth whilst providing jobs for local people that match their aspiration. The Enterprise Zone status gives us that opportunity.”
John Spence, Chair of the West Essex Alliance, said: “This is an exciting announcement which reflects the effective partnership between the local authority and businesses of West Essex, and particularly the hard work of Harlow Council staff. But this is just the start; we now need to use the creation of the Enterprise Zone as a means of attracting high grade employment to Harlow.”
