Representatives from the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnerships met with Members of Parliament in London yesterday to urge their support for the two Enterprise Zone bids from the region.

'Energised, Advanced, Inspired: Plymouth’s Enterprise Zone for the Heart of the South West' and the Heart of the South West Low Carbon Energy Zone are being put forward by the LEP to bring about economic growth in the region.
 
The Plymouth bid focuses on marine renewables and advanced manufacturing, forming part of the South West Marine Energy Park. Creating 2,312 direct jobs by 2015, it will stimulate development beyond 2015 leading to a further anticipated 5,391 direct jobs (7,703 jobs in total) and generating £138m (in GVA).
 
The Devon, Somerset and Torbay (DST) bid focuses on opportunities from nuclear power in Somerset, Solar PV in Torbay and the Atlantic Array offshore wind farm in northern Devon. The Puriton site near Bridgwater will provide a focus for inward investment in the nuclear power supply chain and kick start the regeneration of a major brownfield site. The Torbay site is strongly linked to a recent successful bid for Regional Growth Fund money to focus on skills related to solar power by South Devon College. It would complement and benefit from the development of the South Devon Link Road, which was also the subject of discussions with MPs.
 
The DST proposals are expected to create 5000 jobs by April 2015, rising to 6,400 in total when all of the sites are completed in 2017. These will generate £242m of GVA each year.
 
Oliver Colvile and Ian Liddell-Grainger are championing the proposals across Devon and Somerset to ensure the bids have the backing of all MPs in the region. A letter will go to Ministers signed by all of the Members to express their support for the proposals. An announcement on the successful bids is expected in August.
 
ENDS