Major milestone reached for proposed Plymouth and South Devon Freezone
29 Nov 2021
Plans to create a Plymouth and South Devon Freezone which will unlock millions of pounds worth of public and private investment as well as create thousands of jobs has reached a key milestone with the submission of the Outline Business Case to Government.
Plymouth City Council, in partnership with South Hams District Council and Devon County Council, have now submitted the document to the Government following months of close working between public and private sectors to develop a business case that supports local, national and international businesses to leverage the benefits of being part of the region’s only Freezone.
The Plymouth and South Devon Freezone outline business case submission focuses on the city’s high value engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors and builds on Plymouth’s strengths in marine and defence specialisms and further develops opportunities in the space sector. It will be a regional hub for trade and investment, jobs and regeneration and be committed to clean growth.
A Freeport is a designated area within UK borders where different economic regulations apply. The Plymouth and South Devon Freezone satisfies HM Government criteria of being within a 45km radius of the port of Plymouth and as such includes three key sites at South Yard, Langage and Sherford.
The Government are keen to develop a highly ambitious, world leading Freeports model which will include a comprehensive package of measures, comprising tax reliefs, customs, business rates retention, planning, regeneration, innovation and trade and investment support. Plymouth and South Devon are just one of eight proposed Freeports currently in England and the only one in the South West region.
Councillor Nick Kelly, Leader of Plymouth City Council, said:
“The Freezone is a hugely exciting opportunity for Plymouth and the surrounding area. It will enable us to build on our existing strengths to drive economic growth across the region, unlock millions of pounds of public and private investment and allow us to build back better. All with green, clean and innovation at its heart.”
Leader of South Hams District Council, Councillor Judy Pearce said:
“The Freezone outline business case submission demonstrates that by working together with our neighbours at Plymouth City Council and with Devon County Council we continue to commit to levelling up the regional economy, provide employment opportunities for local people and an innovative environment for new businesses to thrive. Cross boundary working for the good of all.”
Devon County Council leader John Hart said:
“Our proposals provide a unique model which has the potential to benefit local businesses and generate high quality jobs for local people. The investment opportunities that the Freezone offers would boost our economic growth after the pandemic and help us achieve a strong and sustainable, clean, green recovery.
“This is an excellent example of three councils cooperating together with Government to benefit local people and local businesses.”
Karl Tucker, Chair of Heart of the South West LEP said:
“Plymouth and South Devon have real longevity in pioneering marine and maritime and through the Ocean Futures prospectus we have set out a forward thinking vision of research, innovation and technology transfer that delivers directly to net zero and levelling-up. The Plymouth and South Devon Freezone is a significant part of that vision and will specifically support key anchor maritime and low carbon businesses in the area as well as attracting new investment and jobs. We therefore really welcome this important milestone and look forward to securing a fully operational facility in 2022.”
Adrian Bratt, Director of Princess Yachts said:
“This combined Plymouth and South Devon plan continues to demonstrate how meaningful partnerships can really deliver in the levelling up agenda. Princess Yachts employs over 3,000 staff in the city of Plymouth and exports to over 100 countries, we are delighted to be an integral part of this project and will continue to work with Plymouth City Council and all other stakeholders to maximise the opportunities that Freezone status provides.”
Paul Foster, Babcock’s Managing Director at its Devonport facility, said:
“The proposed Freezone aligns well with our own aspirations to support the long term prosperity of Plymouth and offers potential opportunities to work with our customer and supply chain to further grow our business and deliver wider benefits for the community.”
Thousands of new jobs are anticipated to be created in the Freezone’s first few years of operation across a range of skills, trades and professions including science, engineering and logistics.
As part of a series of stakeholder events, the Devon and Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and Plymouth and South Devon Freezone are co-hosting an event for local businesses on Friday 3 December. This event will be an opportunity to find out more about the Freezone, skills, the supply chain and wider benefits to the city and surrounding area for its need.
The Full Business Case for the Plymouth and South Devon Freezone will be submitted in mid April 2022 and it is expected the Freezone will be launched in summer 2022.
