Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage has welcomed the news that the Solent Enterprise Zone has been shortlisted in its bid for a £7 million share of the Government's Enterprise Zones Capital Grant Fund.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) today announced that the Daedalus site will receive further funding for capital projects which will help to overcome the existing barriers to growth.
The investment would be used to unlock Gosport Waterfront's potential by building roads to open up dormant land for development, making the site more attractive to investors and creating business & employment opportunities across the area.
Commenting on the announcement, Caroline said:
"Shortly after my election, I formed the Daedalus Strategy Group which brought together key stakeholders for the first time to make robust plans for the site's future. This group have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Daedalus site reaches its full potential to provide a vital economic boost to the Gosport & Fareham area. Today's announcement marks a significant step forward for the Enterprise Zone and I am confident that the newly allocated funding will help to secure a prosperous future for our local economy."
Minister for Portsmouth, Michael Fallon, said:
"The Government is working together in partnership with business and local leaders to generate new jobs and growth in this great city. This £7million funding is another welcome boost for the local economy and will ensure that the infrastructure is in place to successfully regenerate the Gosport Waterfront Site. The target is to have 3,500 jobs in this Enterprise Zone and today's announcement is an important step in making that a reality."
Today's announcement follows the £25 million investment package committed to the Solent Enterprise Zone by DCLG in September 2012. Steady progress is being made at Daedalus with Fareham College's CEMAST Skills Centre set to launch this year and earlier this month, work began on improvements to Newgate Lane which will improve infrastructural links to the site.
