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The Heart of the South West Enterprise Zone at Huntspill will benefit from Government Growth Deal funding for the Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership, aimed at boosting local economy and growth.

The Growth Deal for the HotSW LEP area was announced on 23 February by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid. HotSW LEP, covering Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay local authority areas will receive £43.57m of funding which will help to deliver 10 transformational projects. This Growth Deal money will part-fund the access road to the Heart of the South West Enterprise Zone’s Huntspill Energy Park and will assist with project’s viability and deliverability.

Huntspill Energy Park is a 270-acre brownfield site located near Bridgwater, just off J23 of M5. The project has been offered Growth Deal funding to assist with building the new road which will improve access to the site. Over its lifetime the site will create over 4,400 high skilled jobs and will generate in a region of £126m of business rates, which will be reinvested to further boost the growth in the area.

Huntspill Energy Park has been granted planning permission (subject to finalising legalities) to deliver 90 hectares of employment land and nearly 2 million square foot of floor space for low carbon and energy generation related businesses.

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: “The South West has huge economic potential and we’re determined to see it go from strength to strength. That’s why we’re backing the new Heart of the South West Enterprise Zone with millions of pounds of investment through Local Growth Fund. From high-tech engineering and energy innovation in Bridgwater to supercomputers in Exeter Science Park, this new Enterprise Zone is a key milestone for the region.”

Steve Hindley CBE DL, Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership Chair, said: “We can and will deliver transformational growth in Devon, Plymouth, Somerset and Torbay, with the right level of backing. This latest Growth Deal funding helps us to achieve the step-change that we aspire to, and we look forward to putting these new schemes into place to help us raise productivity and generate rewarding careers.”

“The site at Huntspill is part of a package of Enterprise Zones over three locations and seven sites in Heart of the South West: including Exeter and East Devon Oceansgate in Plymouth and the Royal Bath and West Showground. Together the Heart of the South West Enterprise Zones package offers economic opportunities for the key sectors of marine, environmental futures, nuclear and food and drink.”

“The Enterprise Zones will benefit the whole of the Heart of the South West economy as the sites are strategically placed to deliver jobs and growth throughout the area.”

Councillor Duncan McGinty, Leader of Sedgemoor District Council, said: “We have a proven track record of delivering growth in the area, with Sedgemoor outperforming many town and cities in the South West. This additional Government funding will help to unlock the infrastructure for the region’s largest employment site and allow it to move ahead in a timely manner.”