location, relocation, expansion, portal

• M5 Junctions 29 and 30 Improvements

• Sky Park

• Science Park

• Flybe Training Academy

• Exeter Airport Master Plan

• Cranbrook

• Monkerton

• Newcourt

• The Intermodal Freight Facility and Distribution Centre

• Connecting Devon and Somerset

Current investment in Devon...

The Devon Economic Partnership brings together the private and public organisations across Devon to ensure work is undertaken strategically across the County. This has produced the Devon Economic Strategy. The overriding vision enshrined in this blueprint is:

"Devon will have a dynamic, competitive and sustainable economy that builds on its strengths, promotes opportunity for all and enhances the environmental qualities of England's greenest county."

Some of the key strategic priorities that have been identified include:

• Achieving sustained investment in business infrastructure and communications
• Developing and harnessing skills to achieve a competitive economy
• Encouraging business start-up & growth by promoting enterprise and improving productivity through promotion of innovation & Development of the knowledge economy
• Developing Devon as England's 'greenest county'

In particular, around business infrastructure, the Strategy identifies a number of key actions:

• Develop growth points focused within the strategic corridor of Exeter-Torbay-Plymouth and the Barnstaple-Bideford axis, and manage the 'ripple' effect.
• Implement a Devon employment space strategy to ensure an adequate supply of readily available employment sites and workspace, to meet the development and expansion needs of local firms and develop the economic potential of Devon to meet the needs of all parts of the county.
• Promote the further development of business incubators and grow-on space on a 'distributed' model basis to help small businesses develop.
• Lobby for improving the strategic transport network by air, land and sea and implementing key strategic transport projects to assist county businesses to compete more effectively in the global market place.
• Improve local accessibility, particularly through greater investment in public transport.
• Continue to invest in ICT developments, infrastructure, improved understanding of the potential and support for wireless broadband initiatives in rural areas unable to access broadband via the telephone cabling network.

More information about investment in Devon...

Planned Developments

M5 Junctions 29 and 30 Improvements

Significant improvements to J30 and J29 on the M5 to improve traffic flow and ensure good access to both existing industrial estates and the planned Skypark and Science Park developments.

Sky Park

Envisaged as a modern business park in a quality landscaped setting, the development is designed for large-scale employment with a planned mix of business, industrial and distribution usage. This flexible approach means that Skypark will be able to accommodate a wide variety of different businesses, from those looking for prestigious inward investment opportunities to smaller local and regional organisations that are in the process of expanding. As the development progresses, improvements to existing local facilities and the creation of new facilities and an infrastructure for buses, cycles and pedestrians are also planned.

Science Park

The overall vision is to create a Science Park which will be an engine for growth for knowledge-based, scientific technological, engineering and medicine (STEM) related enterprise in the region. Also to become a key location for successful science based business development combined with excellent quality of life. It will build a strong brand which projects the region`s world-leading scientific capacity and international ambition

Flybe Training Academy

Flybe have constructed a state-of-the-art multi-million pound training academy at their base at Exeter International Airport. The academy delivers economically valuable industry and sector qualifications, and has benefitted all staff by addressing the need for skills development in the South West. 

The £24 million training academy comprises 26 classrooms, Cabin Crew door trainers, and Flight Simulators, providing an international training facility for the airline industry. Training is also available in customer service for non-aviation related businesses.

A new 4-star, 160-bedroom hotel is now to be constructed next to the training academy, due to commence in 2012.

Exeter Airport Master Plan

"The Airport of choice for the South West"

Exeter Airport published its Master Plan in December 2009, which outlines the development proposals for Exeter International Airport to 2030.

The plans aim to secure Exeter International Airport’s reputation as the principal gateway to Devon and Cornwall, as well as optimise its contribution to the South West economy by attracting highly skilled employment to Devon.

The plans also support Flybe’s development of their Training Academy, and will become carbon neutral in its ground operations by 2015.

To read the Master Plan see the Exeter Airport website

Cranbrook

Cranbrook is to be a new self-sufficient, low carbon community located within close proximity to skilled employment opportunities, encouraging residents to use sustainable methods of transport and to reduce the level of traffic from residents driving to work.

There is currently outline planning permission for 2,900 homes. Work commenced in 2011.

Monkerton

Monkerton and Hill Barton could play a fundamental role in the delivery of Exeter's projected growth up to 2026, with a good opportunity to deliver around 2300 homes early and contribute to a process of place-making through the building of a new sustainable community on the eastern edge of Exeter.

The development of this area is also vitally important to providing the infrastructure needed to deliver the Exeter Science Park and further strategic growth to the east of the M5.

Newcourt

Newcourt is an area that has been identified as a potential sustainable urban extension to Exeter. A Masterplan study has been commissioned for the area, which will provide detailed guidance for any subsequent planning applications. The Masterplan, which outlines the preferred usage of land and the overall approach to development in the area, is being prepared with the aim of providing around 20 hectares of employment land and at least 3,700 dwellings.

The Intermodal Freight Facility and Distribution Centre

The Intermodal Freight Facility and Distribution Centre will provide a railroad interchange for bulk transport of containers, with the possibility of rail, road, and air transport.

The development is likely to comprise warehousing suitable for handling the storage of containers. The floor space is likely to be for single use distribution centres or transport logistic centres, such as food retailing.

The Intermodal Freight Facility and Distribution Centre will be situated on 65 hectares of land at Hayes Farm, Clyst Honiton, close to junction 29 of the M5, and with easy access to Exeter International Airport. The site will also be next to the Exeter-London Waterloo railway line.

Phase One of the development covers 65,757 sq meters to include a distribution warehouse. Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd has already submitted a planning application for the warehouse.

The total investment value is estimated at £45-50 million, and the development has the potential to create approximately 700 jobs.

Connecting Devon and Somerset

The Connecting Devon and Somerset project will deliver superfast broadband to rural areas in Devon.

With £31m of government funding and an investment package worth £100m+, the scheme aims to ensure that 85% of all premises have access to superfast broadband by 2015, and that all premises have access by 2020.

The project will simultaneously roll out a £2m package of training and support to businesses, with the aim of encouraging them to adapt and implement new and innovative ideas.