Gosport’s HMS Daedalus site to become an Enterprise Zone
ZONE The former HMS Daedalus airfield at Lee-on-the-Solent
FAREHAM and Gosport are in line for a jobs boom as the former HMS Daedalus site becomes the first Enterprise Zone in the south.
The site was today set to be awarded the government rating by prime minister David Cameron and chancellor George Osborne.
A government source told The News that Daedalus – recently earmarked for marine, aviation and aerospace use in the Local Plan – is in the latest wave of sites nationwide to achieve the rating.
The site will benefit from business rate discounts, simplified planning rules and investment in the site’s infrastructure, which is aimed at encouraging businesses in and bringing thousands of jobs to the area.
Solent Local Enterprise Partnership – which works to secure a more profitable future for the area – welcomed the move.
Sean Woodward, who helped form the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership and is also Fareham Borough Council leader, said: ‘There are some significant financial breaks for businesses that move on to the site that means there is the potential for a full rebate of business rates for five years while they get established up to the value of about £250,000 a year.
‘The other financial bonus is that the growth in business generated on the site will be able to be held locally. That growth will be used to invest in the infrastructure for the site.’
He added: ‘You name somewhere else that’s got an airport access to the site, free business rates, 25 years of business rate growth invested in the site – you would be hard pushed to find a site like that in England.’
Today’s news brings fresh hope of an increase in job opportunities for local people – currently there are 0.4 jobs per person in Gosport and half of the population travels outside the town to work.
Last night Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage said: ‘It will be excellent news for the entire region.
‘Everyone in the area has worked so hard for this. There are just 0.4 jobs per person in Gosport, with a huge reliance on public sector employment, and increasing jobs will benefit everyone, not least because it means fewer people will have to commute on the heavily-congested A32.’
Gosport Borough Council leader, Councillor Mark Hook, said: ‘We are pleased the government recognises the massive opportunity there is on the Daedalus site. We recognise the need to create jobs on the peninsula and we are delighted the government has sat up and taken notice. This is just the beginning.’
Gary Jeffries, Solent Local Enterprise Partnership board director, said: ‘It’s fantastic news for the Solent region and a great early win for the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership.’
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Comments
There are 23 comments to this article
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Pentip
Friday, August 19, 2011 at 09:49 PMTrue thoughts Alverman. Reading the negative and dreary comments of Liverpoolboy (and Gosportian) scattered amongst this and other stories, if they were running things everyone in South Hampshire would be suffering severe depression and swallowing prozac by the handfull!
Dale Fletcher
Friday, August 19, 2011 at 09:46 PMI'm a member of the Conservative Party, loud and proud! And am happy to shout when good people are working hard! Albeit that sinking to the language of the street with the a**e word was a little too loud the other day when I made the comment at #10. As for my twitter page, I'm touched that people have time to search google!
Alverman
Friday, August 19, 2011 at 05:40 PMThis is an excellent step forward in the drive to bring jobs to Gosport. There are those of course who will hate to see this as success because we now have the Conservatives in the driving seat. "Liverpool Boy" that is the most pathetic comment I have seen for a long time.
liverpoolboy
Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 07:22 PM@10. I bet you said the same about our last mp,and all the wonderful things he did for Gosport, Zilch. Apart from having his nose firmley stuck in the trough. That's all they are in it for.
patriotles
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 07:43 PMIn the past Enterprise Zones had been used by companies to move whole factories and often the workers to gain low business rates often not helping the local jobless. Lets hope there are more safeguards this time..
Pentip
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 06:33 PMGosportonian states the obvious when he says what we need are local jobs for local people because that's why Gosport's PM and council fought for enterprise zone status in the first place and the government agreed. As for Gosportonian's other suggestion that it might be a ruse to 'cram' more house on the Deadalus site, that's sheer nonsence.
rickey
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 06:21 PMDale Fletcher@10----Are you doing the PR for Dinenage . I know that you were one of the proposers for Caroline Dinenage to become MP and you describe yourself as a 'Conservative Activist' on your twitter page. If you think that Gosport Council is well run then you obviously don't know a lot. I assume that writing these supportive positive comments are part of your activism. Let me tell you its not working.
Alan Kemp
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 04:50 PMComment @9 Jenyy46 and @12 southsearesidents - I agree patience with ignorance is required. For your information Lee-on-the-Solent is a ward within the Borough of Gosport. Shame for the negative comments from others; it is good news for Gosport.
MWacEU
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 03:24 PMThe only problem at the moment with traffic is getting out of Gosport in the morning and getting in to Gosport in the evening. Any increase in traffic from this scheme will be in the opposite direction which isn't actually that bad. Plus traffic will decrease in the problem areas as more people will be working in Gosport (Lee-on-Solent)
The Gosport One
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 03:00 PMSpot on @2, a Gosport register should be setup, with people's skills etc. The firms that move in should consult this register first to see if there are any suitable candidates, this should be a clause in the 'cheap' business rates deal. Wont happen though....
liverpoolboy
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 02:19 PM@10 Are you living on another planet, well run council , MP ? Nothing more than self serving out of touch Politicians.We have heard it all before,Thatcher tried it! Get real unless you are one of them. We in Gosport have been stitched up for so many years,promises,promises.Got your vote now bog off typical.
southsearesidents
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 02:07 PMLOL Jenny46 The News decided Portsmouth Guildhall was in Southsea yesterday so perhaps they are moving all the boundaries. One needs to have patience with their ignorance!
Gosportonian
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 02:06 PMDale Fletcher is a well-known Conservative supporter so his gushing praise for the Conservative MP is hardly surprising. As I said earlier if this announcement helps produce local jobs for local people then of course it is good news for Gosport, Fareham and Lee but if it only adds to the number of commuters on our already congested roads then it may be a mixed blessing. What we really need is investment to improve our road transport infrastructure and today's announcement doesn't appear to include that.
Dale Fletcher
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 12:52 PMI find it hard to grasp the negativity of some correspondents here. Caroline Dinenage, Mark Hook, Michael Lane et al have been working incredibly hard to see the LEP formed. Not to mention the continued hard work that goes on in genuinely trying to bring business and jobs to the area. For those whom have heard it all before, perhaps a little recognition that the town is experiencing positive change with a well run Council, and a Member of Parliament who works her arse off to get things done.
Jenny46
Wednesday, August 17, 2011 at 12:46 PMLast time I looked Daedalus' address was Lee-On-The-Solent - NOT Gosport!
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