Coventry enterprise zone is turned down

Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership had submitted a proposal they said could create 14,000 jobs on sites at Whitley and the airport.

The partnership was working with the airport’s owner Sir Peter Rigby and had the support of Warwick District Council and Coventry City Council - but the scheme was not among those announced today (Wednesday) which included enterprise zones at Leicester and Stoke.

Enterprise partnership chairman Denys Shortt, said news that the area had not been awarded an Enterprise Zone was “a setback” but the LEP was still making key strides in boosting the local economy.

He said: “Of course we are disappointed and the news comes as a setback to the LEP and Coventry and Warwickshire.

“We believe our proposal – with the creation of 14,000 jobs – was very strong. We will continue to make it happen without the EZ.

“We will continue to focus on building the Coventry and Warwickshire economy and removing barriers to growth.”

Louise Bennett, chief executive of Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We are disappointed by the Government decision because we feel the existing plans for the development around Coventry Airport and the linkage with the Whitley side make total sense.

“But this is a development which had been drawn up before it became an Enterprise Zone bid and I am sure all partners involved will be determined to see move forward.”

• See Friday’s Courier for more.