Guidance
Enterprise Zones
Information on Enterprise Zones within England.
Applies to England
What are Enterprise Zones?
Enterprise Zones are designated areas aimed at stimulating economic growth by offering incentives to businesses to establish or expand their operations within them.
There are currently 48 Enterprise Zones in England.
Within these zones, businesses could benefit from incentives such as:
- a business rate discount of up to 100% over 5 years
- Enhanced Capital Allowances for machinery and equipment purchases
- simplified planning regulations through Local Development Orders
Any growth in business rates within these zones over a 25-year period, from April 2013, is retained by the local authority to be reinvested locally to support further development.
Similar policies have been implemented in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Background to Enterprise Zones
In March 2011 plans for the creation of Enterprise Zones, to assist ‘the parts of Britain that had missed out in the last 10 years’ were announced, and in the 2011 Budget the first 24 Enterprise Zones were announced, becoming operational in 2012. More zones were added in 2015 and 2016.
The government has no plans to extend the Enterprise Zone programme.
Support available through Enterprise Zones
Enterprise Zones offered tailored measures to support business growth, encompassing initiatives related to business rates, planning, and broadband infrastructure. These measures were adapted to suit local circumstances and may have varied across different Enterprise Zones, including:
Business rate discounts:
- Eligible businesses could receive up to 100% discount on business rates, with a potential value of up to £275,000 per business over a 5-year period.
- The original 24 Enterprise Zones may have offered additional local business rates discounts. Existing businesses could benefit from government-backed rates discounts for up to 5 years from their initial location in the Zone.
Enhanced capital allowances:
- Businesses making significant investments in plant and machinery within the designated assisted areas of Enterprise Zones could benefit from 100% enhanced capital allowances (tax relief).
- The Treasury designates these assisted areas, and a list of current Assisted Areas in the UK is available in the Capital Allowances (Designated Assisted Areas and Amendment) Order 2018.
Simplified planning processes:
- All Enterprise Zones have access to simplified local authority planning procedures through Local Development Orders (LDOs).
- LDOs make the planning process easier for certain types of development, including new industrial buildings or changes in building use, by exempting them from specific planning permission requirements.
Retained business rates growth:
- All business rates growth above an agreed baseline within Enterprise Zones from April 2013 onward will be retained by the local authority to be reinvested in the local area.
Where are Enterprise Zones in England?
| Enterprise Zone | Specialist sector(s) |
|---|---|
| Alconbury Enterprise Campus | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, ICT, industrial biotechnology, low carbon industry |
| Buckinghamshire | High performance technology, space propulsion, satellite applications, agri-food, health |
| Birmingham | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, business services, financial services, ICT, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| Black Country | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, automotive, low carbon industry |
| Blackpool Airport | Wind, nuclear, waste to energy |
| Bristol Temple Quarter and Bath, North-East Somerset Valley | Business services, creative industries, financial services, low carbon industry |
| Cambridge Compass | Innovation and manufacturing, bio-tech, high-tech, life sciences, clean-tech, creative and digital |
| Carlisle Kingmoor Park | Nuclear engineering, energy, advanced manufacturing |
| Cheshire Science Corridor | Life sciences, energy and nuclear, environmental technologies, advanced manufacturing and engineering, automotive |
| Ceramic Valley | Advanced materials, energy and power generation, advanced manufacturing and engineering, business and professional services, warehouse |
| Corridor Manchester | Life sciences, health innovation, med-tech, ICT |
| Discovery Park | Agri-food, business services, energy, industrial biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| Didcot Growth Accelerator | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, ICT, energy, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| Dorset Innovation Park | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, marine, energy, defence |
| Exeter and East Devon | Innovation, digital business and professional services, low carbon industry, advanced manufacturing and engineering, Aerospace |
| The London and South Innovation Valley (EZ3) | Digital and ICT, business and professional services, pharmaceuticals, high-tech manufacturing, low carbon and sustainable tech |
| Gravity | Manufacturing and engineering, automotive, low carbon industries, AI and Robotics, creative and digital |
| Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft | Business services, construction including built environment, energy, retail and logistics |
| Harlow | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, creative industries, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| Hereford | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, agri-food, business services, construction including built environment, security |
| Hertfordshire Enviro-Tech | Green technology, sustainable construction, sustainable transport, agri-tech, smart energy and smart technology |
| Hillhouse Technology | Chemicals |
| Humber | Agri-food, energy, retail and logistics, transport |
| Lancashire | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, automotive |
| Leeds City Region and M62 Corridor | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, automotive, construction including built environment, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, retail and logistics |
| Loughborough and Leicester | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, energy and low carbon, life sciences, professional and financial services, software development, space |
| Luton Airport | Aerospace, advanced manufacturing and engineering, associated leisure, hotel and catering businesses |
| Manchester Airport City | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, business services, industrial biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| Mersey Waters | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, automotive, business services, energy, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| MIRA Technology Park | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, automotive, ICT, low carbon, industry, transport |
| Newhaven Enterprise Park | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, clean, green and marine, environmental technology and services, creative and digital |
| Newquay Aerohub | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, energy, ICT, transport |
| North East | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, automotive, construction including built environment, financial services, retail and logistics |
| North Kent | Healthcare and medical technologies (teaching and practice), advanced manufacturing and engineering, creative and digital |
| Northampton Waterside | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, automotive, construction including built environment, financial services, retail and logistics |
| Nottingham and Derby | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, creative industries, energy, industrial biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| Oceansgate Plymouth | Marine |
| Royal Docks | Energy |
| Sci-Tech Daresbury | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, energy, ICT, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| Science Vale UK | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, energy, ICT, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| Sheffield City Region | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, creative industries, low carbon industry, pharmaceuticals and healthcare |
| Solent | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, aerospace, transport |
| Space to Innovate | Agri-tech, offshore energy, the green economy, creative and digital |
| Tees Valley | Advanced manufacturing and engineering, chemicals, creative industries, energy |
| York Central | Business and professional services, creative and digital, high-tech engineering and rail, education |
How to contact an Enterprise Zone
For more information on how your business can benefit from a particular Enterprise Zone, please contact them directly. Details can be found by following the links above.