Four projects, involved in the space industry, food sector, and the development of HS2, will form the new East Midlands Manufacturing Zones, communities secretary James Brokenshire announced.
Melton Mowbray, Space Park Leicester, and areas across North Derbyshire and Greater Lincolnshire will together benefit from a total of £500,000 funding to develop their plans.
The Greater Lincolnshire Enterprise Partnership will focus on the food industry, with £155,000 of funding set aside to “accelerate the development of the food and advanced manufacturing industries across Lincolnshire and the South Humber Industrial Investment Programme area with investment supporting projects to improve transport and utilities infrastructure”. According to the Government, the food sector in Greater Lincolnshire is valued at £3.5bn with a focus on pre-prepared food due to the 75 large UK/international companies and 4,000 SMEs in the area.
Melton Mowbray has also received £75,000 of funding to help develop a “distinctive food and drink focused manufacturing zone”.
The zones aim to reduce planning restrictions to allow land to be used more productively and provide certainty for business investment.
Brokenshire said: “Manufacturing, innovation and trade are at the heart of the East Midlands economy, so it is the perfect place for the UK’s first Manufacturing Zones.
“This is another example of how the government’s is delivering for the Midlands with our modern Industrial Strategy backing local businesses and building on local strengths.”
