Enterprise zone
Areas where commercial and industrial businesses can get incentives to set up or expand
- Design stage
- Research
- Tags
- local plan
- Discussion
- Join the discussion on GitHub
- Last updated
- 19 March 2025
Screen
What is the 'Enterprise zone' consideration?
Enterprise Zones are designated areas aimed at stimulating economic growth by offering incentives to businesses to establish or expand their operations within them.
Is there legislation that defines 'Enterprise zone'?
No
Who, in law, is responsible for the planning consideration or makes decisions about 'Enterprise zone'?
The Houses of Commons Library document on Enterprise zones states that the "the then Chancellor George Osborne made a speech, at the Conservative Party spring forum on 5 March 2011" announcing the new plans, which aligns with an update to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, Section 6, outlining that "An order under paragraph 5 of Schedule 32 to the M1Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980 (designation of enterprise zone) may provide that the enterprise zone authority shall be the local planning authority for the zone for such purposes of the planning Acts and in relation to such kinds of development as may be specified in the order."
Which organisations do we think should publish the data?
Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
Is the Enterprise zone a trigger?
Yes
What needs to be done because Enterprise zone has acted as the trigger?
The require different planning permission and are considered differently in the planning system. They are often consented through Local Development Orders
Is there any Enterprise zone data already available?
No
Do we think the data should come from a single source?
Yes, there is a PDF map containing Enterprise zones and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) boundaries. Currently, there are no plans the to extend the Enterprise Zone programme.
The issue with this document is that as it is portrayed on a national scale, there is no accurate way of defining geometries.
Will a data standard be required?
Yes
Research
What other planning considerations does it interact with?
Local Development Order, Local Plans and Housing, Economic Land Assessments (for economic land uses)
Who are the statutory consultees for Enterprise zone?
- MHCLG
What are the planning needs for this data?
Consent is gained differently on enterprise zones - usually through the Local Development Order route.
What's the value of adding Enterprise zone data to the platform?
It should largely be available anyway, and useful for people to understand where they are located