Osborne and Cameron announce new Enterprise Zones

By Matthew Barrett
^{Follow Matthew on Twitter}

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, and the Prime Minister, David Cameron, are today announcing the finalised locations for the new "enterprise zones" in England, which the Treasury expects will create 30,000 new jobs by 2015.

Enterprise zones mean that businesses enjoy cheaper business rates - a cut in taxes worth £150million, super-fast broadband and relaxed planning regulations.

Earlier in the summer, four other enterprise zones were announced, at sites in Birmingham and Solihull, Bristol, Leeds and Sheffield. This new announcement includes sites at Cornwall, Hereford and Kent.

Proposals for the enterprise zones were drawn up by local partnerships of council and business leaders. Each one is expected to specialise in a different industry. For example, Hereford will specialise in defence, and Newquay will focus on the aerospace industry. Below is the complete list of new enterprise zone locations:

• Daresbury Science Campus in Warrington
• Newquay AeroHub in Cornwall
• The Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus Airfield in Gosport
• Rotherwas Enterprise Zone in Hereford
• Discovery Park in Sandwich, Kent
• Enterprise West Essex in Harlow
• Science Vale UK in Oxfordshire
• Alconbury Airfield in Cambridgeshire
• Great Yarmouth in Norfolk
• Lowestoft in Suffolk
• Northampton Waterside
• MIRA Technology Park in Hinckley Leicestershire
• Humber Estuary Renewable Energy Super Cluster

The Prime Minister said:

"We are determined to do everything we can to make Britain the best place in the world to start and grow a business. Enterprise Zones are a major step towards delivering this - cutting business taxes, easing planning restrictions and giving business the tools they need to invest and expand. These new Enterprise Zones will be trailblazers for growth, jobs and prosperity throughout the country."

George Osborne added: 

"It is time for us to help every part of the country to grow and realise its potential. Enterprise zones are a critical part of our plan for growth, and will support  economic development and create more than 30,000 new jobs by 2015. The zones will benefit from over £150million in tax breaks over  four years, new super-fast broadband, lower levels of planning control and the potential to use enhanced capital allowances."