Airport City chosen as ‘enterprise zone’

THE AREA around Manchester Airport has been chosen as one of the UK’s 21 ‘enterprise zones’ laid out in yesterday’s budget.

‘We have the potential to create over 7,000 jobs as a result of successful development, and our approach to capturing tax revenues is designed to ensure their re-investment throughout Greater Manchester’

The zone will be concentrated on and around Airport City, the airport’s 60-acre development scheme.

Charlie Cornish, chief executive of Manchester Airports Group (MAG), said: “Manchester Airport is the principal international gateway to the region and is primed for an investment of this scale, amassing over sixty acres. Our development programme will expand the world freight terminal, create new business space, attract global businesses and provide health related uses. It will build upon the proximity of Wythenshawe Hospital as an international centre of excellence, science, research and advanced manufacturing.

“Phase one of Airport City will start early next year and we will be publishing our planning framework for consultation shortly.”

Lord Peter Smith, chair of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) said: "Airport City has a major opportunity to create a commercial product of global significance and under the leadership of Manchester Airport we look forward to working with the fullest range of stakeholders to ensure details are developed following consultation as soon as possible.

“The selection of Airport City followed independent assessment of where the greatest benefit for the Greater Manchester economy would be delivered. We have the potential to create over 7,000 jobs as a result of successful development, and our approach to capturing tax revenues is designed to ensure their re-investment throughout Greater Manchester, including infrastructure.

“We recognise that Greater Manchester is a single labour market and that we must deliver a single economic strategy and our new governance arrangements which are due to become operational on the 1st April will be crucial to helping local authorities and our LEP to deliver this."

Mike Blackburn on behalf of the Shadow Local Enterprise Partnership said: "I welcome the announcement which is an encouraging response to the need to drive the maximum growth in Greater Manchester. There is of course a lot of details to be fully worked through but under the guidance of Manchester Airport and in close consultation with the fullest range of stakeholders this will be major priority for the LEP when it is formally established next month."