A new access road, which goes through part of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone and links Humber Road in Beeston to Thane Road in Lenton, is set to be opened to the public for the first time at 10am on 31 March.
Nottingham City Council was provided with funding from the D2N2 LEP to create the road, and includes a new bridge over the Beeston Canal and will serve new developments and businesses in the Nottingham Enterprise Zone. The project has involved a partnership with Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, Boots, the D2N2 LEP and the Canals and Rivers Trust.
In March 2011, part of the Boots site in Beeston, was awarded Enterprise Zone status by the Government and is part of Nottingham and Derby’s Enterprise Zone, along with the Beeston Business Park, Nottingham Science Park and Infinity Park Derby. Together they hope to become the UK’s centre for innovation for life sciences, medical research, health, beauty and wellness.
Enterprise Zones are areas with incentives to encourage the creation of new businesses, such as business incubators, start-ups and small and medium enterprises, which will contribute to the growth of local and national economies. As well containing existing buildings and brownfield land to create new businesses, the south of the site also has space to develop up to 675 new homes.
Councillor Rebecca Langton, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Highways and Strategic Transport at Nottingham City Council, commented: “The new link road could be the key to unlocking significant potential for the city and the surrounding areas.
“Not only does it now create an opportunity to develop new homes for local people, but the Enterprise Zone also helps us to position Nottingham as a key destination for high-growth businesses. The benefits this brings to local residents through, inward investment and jobs will help us build a stronger economy as we recover from Covid -19 and lockdown restrictions are eased”.
Mark Chivers, Estates Director at Boots, comments: “Opening the access road has been a collaborative effort between Boots, Nottingham City Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, D2N2 LEP and the Canals and River Trust.
“It is an important milestone in opening up the site for the visitors and colleagues of Boots and all the partners who work on the Enterprise Zone site. Importantly, the road opening means our surplus development land can be accessed and new residential and commercial projects can begin.
“We are thrilled to increase the connectivity of the site for the creation of the Health, Beauty and Well Being Enterprise Zone.”
Tom Goshawk, Head of Capital Programmes at D2N2 LEP, said: “The opening of the new link road through the Boots Enterprise Zone site will contribute to the D2N2’s aims for a more prosperous and better-connected region by unlocking the potential of the Boots Enterprise Zone to attract new investment and support jobs”