Newquay Cornwall Airport (NCA) is one of the 22 sub-regions in the UK to be awarded Enterprise Zone Status. The zones are part of the Government’s plan to attract new business in these areas and to generate jobs, with benefits percolating through the wider regional and national economies.
Cornwall Council Leader Alec Robertson said, “The creation of an Enterprise Zone at the Newquay Cornwall Airport site is important for the whole Cornish economy and will not only bring much needed higher value-adding jobs to an existing Brownfield site, but will also help to safeguard the airport as an important strategic business location”.
About the Enterprise Zone
The Newquay Aerohub Enterprise Zone will incorporate new aerospace and aviation facilities, including an aviation skills academy, and is projected to generate more than 700 high-value, permanent jobs by 2015. The new developments, arranged over two areas, are hoped to encourage private sector investment in the aerospace sector, which will benefit Cornwall, the Scilly Isles and the whole South West region.
The Aerohub is the only enterprise zone in the UK that is dedicated to the aerospace sector. Chris Ridgers, the Council’s Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration announced, “This is very good news for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. This area is one of the largest development sites in the South West, with the Newquay Aerohub Enterprise Zone potentially delivering over 700 jobs in direct aerospace and a further 375 in the wider economy over the next five years.”
Aerospace Hub in Cornwall
The Aerohub will present a unique environment for aerospace activities, with one of the UK’s longest runways (2,744m), the ability to support aircraft of any size or specification, uncongested skies, access to restricted airspace, and Air Traffic Control Systems. The site also enables direct access to a broad marine environment for Search and Rescue (SAR) training, and is next door to an operational military base.
The Managing Director of Newquay Cornwall Airport, Al Titterington commented that, “The Newquay Aerohub will enhance our already strong aerospace offering. A number of the major aerospace companies we are currently in discussions with have said that the Aerohub would add significant value to their proposals for creating activity at the airport and the high value jobs this would bring to Cornwall. This really is great news”.
Development Opportunities in the Zone
Aerohub is one of the South West region’s biggest development opportunities, offering over 325 hectares of land for development in two identified development areas at Newquay Cornwall Airport: a direct aerospace development, covering 23.3 hectares, and a business park covering 70 hectares.
The direct aerospace development offers large areas of hardstanding and hangers and has direct access to the runway, and the business park will facilitate the aerospace cluster, with potential to accommodate 100,000 sq m of business space.
The Aerohub received approval for a Local Development Order (LDO), making it a planning free environment. The LDO permits the development of over 100,000 sq m of buildings without needing planning permission from the local planning authority, simplifying the development process and easing investment risk.
The development of an Aviation Learning Centre, a joint venture between the Airport, Newquay for Excellence Training (NfET), and Lufthansa Resource Technical Training (LRTT), is offering aviation entry and maintenance qualifications.
Incentives and Benefits for Investors
Approval of the Aerohub Enterprise Zone plans has enabled government funds, which are being channelled into various support schemes and incentives to attract and support new businesses in the zone.
LEP Chairman, Chris Pomfret, said, “This funding will enable us to support business growth and create new jobs and means that we are off to a very good start in creating a new and exciting economic future for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly”.
Residents of the zone will benefit from the Convergence ERDF Programme, training and development funding, and inward investment and business support. Financial incentives include tax and business rate discounts of up to 100%, and enhanced capital allowances, with discounts available for up to five years to companies that enter the Zone before April 2015.
Please see our page about the Enterprise Zones in the UK for more information, or find out more about doing business in Cornwall on their listing.
