Strategic Objective 4: Planning, Development and Infrastructure
The LEP will work with the Place Shaping Group of the Worcestershire
Partnership to support joint aspirations for planning, development and
infrastructure. There is a consensus across Worcestershire that there is a
need to work together to ensure a beneficial, planning system and culture
which supports business growth while valuing the social and environment
elements which make the county a favourite place to live, work, play, invest
and visit. The Coalition Government continues to look to reform the UK
planning system, with the new revised National Planning Policy Framework
and further announcements expected in Autumn 2012.
The LEP and the Worcestershire Partnership, through its Place Shaping Group,
have signed a Planning Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), its purpose being to
create a business friendly planning system which contributes towards Worcestershire
being “Open for Business”. The LEP is working collaboratively with Local Planning
Authorities to ensure planning protection and economic development work in
tandem to support economic growth, through the Development Plans, which local
authorities produce and through other mechanisms such as Local Development
Orders; for example the South Kidderminster Local Development Order.
The LEP will work with key partners to deliver Worcestershire’s strategic employment
sites as a priority for inward investment as well as indigenous business expansion.
Key sites include:
Bromsgrove Town Centre
Bromsgrove
Longbridge
Bromsgrove
Malvern Hills Science Park
Malvern Hills
Redditch Eastern Gateway
Redditch
South Kidderminster Enterprise Park
Wyre Forest
Worcester City East
Worcester
Worcester Tech Park and M5 J6/7 Corridor
Wychavon and Worcester
Bromsgrove Food & Logistics Park
Bromsgrove / Redditch
Transportation through the movement of goods and people creates opportunities
to trade and to create economic growth. This connectivity and good infrastructure
is essential to maximize Worcestershire’s potential and to create a competitive
environment. Examples include high speed Broadband; the improvement of pinch
points that are barriers to growth on our road system; and the need for greater
capacity and connectivity on our railways. The LEP will work with key partners
to advocate for infrastructure which creates better connectivity whether it be
broadband, utilities, road, rail or air transport for the county’s future needs.
Key projects that the LEP has identified are:
Major Improvements of
Worcester and Bromsgrove Road
Junctions 4 and 6 on M5
Worcester Southern Link
Worcester and Malvern
Road
Kidderminster connectivity Wyre Forest
Road
to the Motorway
Bromsgrove Station
Bromsgrove
Rail
Improvements
Worcestershire Parkway
Wychavon
Rail
Improved connectivity to
Countywide
Road, Rail
to Birmingham Airport
and Air
and future HS2 terminal
Superfast Broadband
Countywide
Broadband
Business does not operate within county boundaries and the barriers to growth
do not exist all within the confines of our boundaries. Therefore the LEP will
maximize synergies with other surrounding LEPs to the benefit of Worcestershire
and it will identify opportunities for working cross border and particularly within
the overlapping northern districts.
The LEP will continuously lobby Government to improve funding opportunities for
Worcestershire initiatives while preparing infrastructure and development proposals
which can take advantage of rolling Government funding announcements such as
Growing Places and of European funds.
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