2.5.4. Mersey Waters Enterprise Zone

Question 1

What does the zone include?

Answer 1

• A new cruise liner facility alongside the Princess Dock
• The new Leeds-Liverpool canal link extension
• Millions of square metres of office space
• 3 luxury apartment towers
• A 760 space multi storey car park
• 2 high quality hotels which offer excellent meeting and conference facilities and health clubs

Question 2

What will the scheme do?

Answer 2

• Tax breaks and planning rules will be cut back to attract new businesses and create jobs
• It will create 20,000 new permanent jobs for the Liverpool City Region
• It straddles both sides of the river and converts 2 major regeneration projects in Wirral and Liverpool
• Aim to do this through using Wirral Waters and Liverpool Waters as catalysts to increase development in local economy

Question 3

Luton Airport

Answer 3

• 5th largest by passenger numbers and one of the fastest growing airports in the UK
• In late 2022, they held a second statutory consultation on the proposals to increase the capacity of London Luton Airport to 32 million passengers per annum -> the scheme will bring a scale of reduction in order to improve the visual and environmental state of the airport
• The airport said the plans would support its aim to produce zero emissions ground operations by 2040.
• The success of Luton Airport acts as a catalyst for the economy of the region, currently contributing £2000 per minute to the national economy
• The development opportunity comprises three sites surrounding or connected to Luton Airport : Century Park, Airport Businesses Park and Stirling Place
• Luton is currently undergoing a major transformation with more than £1.5 billion in private sector investment

Question 4

Royal Docks

Answer 4

• South London’s only enterprise zone
• Created 35,000 jobs and 4,000 homes in the zone and 60,000 jobs and 25,500 homes within the wider network
• By 2037/38, there will be an investment of £8 billion, including £600 million of TFL investment in the DLR network

Question 5

Sector focus

Answer 5

• Business services
• Green enterprise
• Hospitality
• Leisure
• Creative industries

Question 6

What has been created?

Answer 6

• Planning has been created to utilise the former docks and create a ‘floating village’ of homes, shops, restaurants, a visitor destination an workspace
• Already a magnet for businesses with industry leaders including Tate and Lyle, Slemens Crystal, ExCel London and the University of East London already based there