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The Government has designated Discovery Park at Sandwich, Kent an Enterprise Zone. This note sets out what this means and what incentives will be on offer to businesses located or locating there.
Discovery Park Enterprise Zone covers 99.4 hectares on the Pfizer site at Sandwich. The map to the left sets out the boundaries.
The package of incentives on offer for businesses locating at the Enterprise Zone are:
The main incentive for businesses will be business rate discounts. The available discount is a maximum of £55,000 per year, for up to five years (i.e. a maximum discount of £275,000 over a five year period). There is no limit on the percentage discount, so a business paying rates of less than £55,000 per year could receive a discount of 100% (However, the business rate discount is subject to state aid regulations - see below).
The discount will be available to businesses located on the site during any year of the period from 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2015. This means that the last date at which a business would be eligible for a discount will be 31 March 2015, and the discount period would run out in 2020.
Businesses already on Discovery Park when the discount period comes into force in April 2012 will be able to access the discount.
There are no restrictions on the size or type of business that can benefit from the business rate discount, other than those set out in European state aid rules (see below).
The Enterprise Zone will have a simplified planning regime. To achieve this, Dover District Council plans to develop a Local Development Order (LDO) , which would enable the conversion of existing buildings, the development of new buildings and changes of use, without the need for individual planning permissions, provided that it is within the scope of the Order.
The Government’s Enterprise Zone prospectus offers support to ensure that superfast broadband is available throughout the Zone, by guaranteeing the most supportive regulatory environment and if necessary public funding. Discovery Park already has good broadband access and it is not yet known what additional Government support will be required or available.
The benefits of the Enterprise Zone, including the business rate discount will be available from 1 April 2012. For other information on the Enterprise Zone offer, please see www.locateinkent.com/enterprisezone.
It is envisaged that an Enterprise Zone Board will be put in place to co-ordinate relevant aspects of the development of the Zone including strategy, marketing, monitoring job creation and business development .
Businesses interested in finding out more about Discovery Park Enterprise Zone should contact Locate in Kent on 01732 520700, or email enquiries@locateinkent.com.
Discovery Park Enterprise Zone offers discounts on business rates to occupiers on the site worth up to £55,000 per year for up to five years (i.e. a total maximum discount of £275,000).
This discount is made under the de minimis rule, designed to limit market distortion as a result of public sector investment. This rule sets a ceiling for the maximum amount of grant aid (or equivalent in tax breaks) that businesses may receive.
It should be noted that:
a) The de minimis ceiling is cumulative and applies to the total amount of aid to a single recipient from all sources of aid made under the de minimis rule. So the value of the rate discount available to an individual business may be reduced if that business is already in receipt of public sector grant from some other source.
b) The de minimis rule does not apply to businesses in certain sectors. These are mainly businesses in primary food production, freight transport and the coal sector, which are unlikely to be attracted to Discovery Park.
Businesses interested in finding out more about Discovery Park Enterprise Zone should contact Locate in Kent
Tel: 01732 520700
Email enquiries@locateinkent.com.
For Frequently asked questions
Louise Askew
Economic Development Officer
E-mail: louise.askew@thanet.gov.uk