The Aerohub Enterprise Zone at Newquay Airport was today established as one of the largest planning free development areas in the UK after it was awarded its second Local Development Order (LDO).
The new LDO provides a simplified planning process and allows development on the Aerohub site without the need for planning permission, including the potential for a 35.5 hectare business park to be built.
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, said: “Enterprise Zones are creating new local jobs and stimulating business ventures through significant tax incentives, simplified planning and superfast broadband that will rebalance the economy.
“I’m delighted that the Aerohub at Newquay Cornwall Airport Enterprise Zone is taking advantage of these changes and by getting simplified planning in place can boost employment and growth in Cornwall.”
Plans for the business park include an ancillary hotel and retail and leisure facilities, which will be developed over the next 20 years.
Chris Pomfret, chair of the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly LEP, called the news “a major milestone for the Aerohub project”. He said: “We are delighted DCLG has approved the LDO, which will be crucial in developing Aerohub at Newquay Cornwall Airport.
“We are in the unique position of being one of the largest planning free environments in the UK and the business park will be at the heart of Aerohub’s development.”
The Cornwall Development Company worked with Cornwall Council on a second LDO after successfully securing the first UK Enterprise Zone LDO in 2011. The original LDO on Newquay Cornwall Airport covered a significant area of development land totalling over 58 Ha (144acres) and in total the LDO covered 280Ha and (691 acres) of land.
The two LDOs combined cover over 243 hectares (600 acres) of land making it one of the largest areas covered by LDOs in the UK. The second LDO and accompanying development framework is funded through the ERDF Convergence Programme.
