Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone among best in country as investment ramps up

The enterprise zone is a 25 year long term project aimed at creating skilled jobs and underpinning the Fylde coast economy.

More than £84m is expected to be ploughed into the venture during its lifetime up until 2041.

It is currently one of the best performing enterprise zones in the country, having already enabled the creation of more than 2,100 new jobs in growth sectors with 130 companies locating on to the site.

The overall target is to attract 180 new businesses, 5,000 jobs and £300m of private sector investment.

The first phase has focused on the eastern sector at Common Edge Road including new sports facilities with 12 new grass pitches completed in October 2021.

Additional investment in new changing rooms and spectator pavilion, a floodlit 3G pitch, floodlit rugby pitch and training area, 194 space car parking and improved road access to the site, will be fully open in 2023.

The second phase of activity will focus on Blackpool Airport which is within the borough of Fylde, although work on both phases is expected to overlap.

Higher building and material costs due to inflation may delay some elements of development.

One of the most recent successes was the arrival of carbon fibre specialist Multi-ply which opened its £8m new building in 2022, with the site becoming fully operational in March.

Other inquiries from potential new businesses are also in the pipeline.

Coun Mark Smith, cabinet member for business, enterprise and job creation on Blackpool Council, said: “As part of the next phase of delivering the essential infrastructure for further growth the council is continuing investing in the Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone with an additional £14m of prudential borrowing (to be recouped from business rates growth) to support the delivery of the new spine road to complement the funding received as part of Blackpool’s Town Deal.

“Investment in the Enterprise Zone allows the retention of considerable assets and infrastructure at the completion of the project, including Blackpool Airport and the Common Edge sports facilities.

"It will also have provided increased job opportunities, improved roads and income generated from business rates.”

Here are some of the highlights -

Progress on phase one includes the new £6m Common Edge leisure facilities on target to be fully complete and operational by March 2023, releasing 10.5ha of commercial development land. New highways and utility infrastructure construction within the Towns Fund project, for which outline planning consent and Secretary of State approval was obtained in November, is due to begin. The EZ was awarded £7.5m from Blackpool's £39m Town Deal towards the cost of a new Eastern gateway access to improve traffic flow. Consultants have been appointed to progress a feasibility study for a solar farm at Blackpool Airport. A commercial developer is being sought for the provision of a battery storage facility to complement efficient use of solar and wind energy Planning applications are expected in 2023 for new aviation hangars at Blackpool Airport. Continued refurbishment of Squires Gate Industrial Estate by owners Euro Properties, with property now substantially let. Seek investment from data storage and digital companies.