Fiona Bruce MP calls on Government
to designate Congleton constituency an Enterprise Area
Fiona is calling
Cheshire East Council, the Local Enterprise Partnership and business leaders to
support the designation of a new Enterprise Zone in the Congleton Constituency.
Enterprise Zones have been hugely beneficial to the local economies. The Government is building on the success of
the existing 24 Enterprise Zones which by last December had attracted 15,500
jobs around the country since they opened over the past three years and
delivered a multibillion-pound boost to local economies.
Fiona Bruce said “Local Councils
are being urged to work with their Local Enterprise Partnerships to come
forward with ambitious plans for new Enterprise Zones and to seize the economic
initiative by identifying businesses on their patch with investment or export
potential. This includes building on the commercial strengths of rural areas.
Ministers want local business and civic
leaders to encourage firms with shared interests to stand together and form a
stronger commercial proposition.
These new zones, if supported by a strong
business case, will enable places to drive growth and jobs creation.
Enterprise Zones bring with them a raft of
benefits to businesses including lower taxes, access to superfast broadband and
streamlined planning permission to boost local infrastructure.
I am calling on Business leaders, the Local
Enterprise Partnership and Cheshire East Council to join me in seeking an
Enterprise Zone designation in the Congleton Constituency.”
Fiona Bruce added “For as
long as I have been MP for the Congleton Constituency enterprising local
business people have commented to me that they could get better Government
grants and support if they ran their business in other areas not far away. It
is critical that we support and strengthen local businesses and the jobs they
create especially for our young people who want to work and live locally. And so,
it is vital that every effort is made to take advantage of this opportunity to boost
our local economy.”
The Chancellor George
Osborne announced in last week’s Budget that all Local Enterprise Partnerships
now have the opportunity to support an Enterprise Zone and all can now bid.
There is activity on all zones, whether it is continued
growth on established sites or former derelict sites being brought back to life
thanks to the Government’s vision and funding.
Businesses
basing themselves on Enterprise Zones can access a number of benefits:
- Up to 100% business rate discount worth up to £275,000 per business
over a 5-year period
- 100% enhanced capital allowances (tax relief) to businesses making
large investments in plant and machinery on 8 Zones in Assisted Areas
- 100% retention of business rate growth for LEPs, to enable them to
fund development on Enterprise Zones.
- The deadline for
bids is 18 September 2015.
