Business park plan take wing at airport

Plans to build two new business parks next to Southend Airport have been given the green light.  

Local planning authorities Rochford and Southend-on-Sea councils granted consent for the new business parks, which are designed to deliver more than 100,000 sq m of new employment space over the next 10 to 15 years.

Southend-on-Sea council is working with Henry Boot Developments Ltd, which it selected as its preferred development partner for the scheme, on a masterplan for the new business parks. The intention is to submit an outline planning application next spring with construction work scheduled to start in 2016.

The plans envisage 7,000 jobs being created over 10 to 15 years through the construction of over 100,000 sq m of new employment space.

Key features of the plan include:

• A site for the Anglia Ruskin Medtech campus which will deliver space and support for businesses in the medical technologies sector
• An innovation centre providing flexible commercial accommodation for entrepreneurs and small businesses
• Up to 109,000 sq m of new employment space, including good-quality new office space
• A further 15,000 sq m of employment space to be made available for redevelopment on the existing Aviation Way industrial estate

Cllr Ron Woodley, leader of Southend-on-Sea council, said: “It is part of an unfolding story of regeneration across Southend. We’re seeing a huge amount of investment along the seafront and Seaways car park, we’re working hard to bring about the redevelopment of disused office blocks along Victoria Avenue and we’re investing in nurturing new and growing businesses through grants and business support.”