By Oliver Clark.
Edinburgh Airport is a prime candidate to become one of Scotland's first Enterprise Zone after plans were unveiled to develop it into a hub for international business and transport, the head of city development at Edinburgh City Council has said.
Having pledged to create four enterprise zones if it won the May election, the Scottish National Party (SNP) led government is understood to be actively consulting with Edinburgh City Council and other stakeholders to make the BAA-owned airport a prime location for international businesses and investment.
"The current Enterprise Zone legislation is only applicable in England and Wales so the Scottish government is looking to put in place similar Enterprise Zones in Scotland and if this happens Edinburgh Airport would be an obvious case study, but at the moment the necessary legislation does not exist," Dave Anderson, director of city development at the council, told Global Airport Cities.
This week plans were announced to develop up to 500,000sqm around Edinburgh Airport into company headquarters, high value office space, hotels and a new location for the Royal Highland Centre showground, in a move that could create up to 3,600 new jobs and pump up to €4.4 billion to Scotland's economy annually.
Dubbed the 'International Business Gateway' the €342 million scheme would see 85 hectares to the west of the airport into prime real estate and integrate it more fully with the city through rail improvements, a new tram extension to Newhaven and better links to Fife and Glasgow.
Already the home of the Royal Bank of Scotland's (RBS) world headquarters, the developers who include Royal Highland Agricultural Society, Scottish Enterprise, the Scottish Government and Edinburgh City Council, hope the airport can become a net attractor of investment and business location.
John Swinney Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth said: "Scottish Ministers are pleased to endorse the West Edinburgh Implementation Plan. Whilst this is not a commitment to future funding from the Scottish Government, the partnership approach to preparing the Implementation Plan is a positive example of what can be achieved to facilitate long-term growth despite the difficult economic climate. We wish the Edinburgh International Development Partnership every success in delivering the vision for West Edinburgh."
Plans to enhance Scotland's National Showground have already been approved and will build on the existing Royal Highland Centre's considerable economic impact, currently estimated in the region of £250 million, by boosting its potential to compete nationally and internationally for a wide range of events. The Royal Highland Centre currently attracts in the region of one million visitors each year.
The project will be primarily funded by the developers and outside investors and the first phase of development is expected to be completed over the next 10 years.
