The Newport Innovation and Enterprise package (Ni.PARK) is a £10.386m project which includes £7.36m from Local Growth Fund to create serviced employment land including an Agri-Tech Enterprise and Science Park with direct links to Harper Adams University’s innovation facilities.
It aims to attract investment from high-tech businesses, stimulating complementary research and development activities and welcomed its first tenant in February 2022.
It also encourages supply chain growth across a wide range of companies engaged in new agricultural technologies and with links to Telford’s strong advanced manufacturing sector.
£7.4million Growth Deal 3 investment
Creating serviced employment land including an Agri-Tech Enterprise and Science Park
Aims to create 954 jobs and 1,070 new houses
The Park has been recognised and promoted by the Department for International Trade as a ‘high potential opportunity’ area to international agri-tech and agri-food businesses looking to invest in the UK.
In October 2021, the project landed the ‘Project of the Year’ title in the over £3 million category at the 2021 Civil Engineers Contractors Association (CECA) Midlands awards.
The package will kickstart delivery of more than 1,000 essential new houses including starter homes in the Newport area – a key element of the Marches contribution to meeting government housing priorities. The package also aims to create 954 jobs and should be fully completed by 2021.
Strategic off-site highway improvements (including to the A41 and A518 transport corridors) and sustainable transport measures have been implemented to connect Ni.PARK with Newport town centre, and support new housing development.
The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.
The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.
The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.
We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.
The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.
The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk
For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk
For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk
The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com