By Oliver Clark
Manchester Airport has been named as one of 21 'Enterprise Zones' in the UK , giving it the power to offer businesses incentives to settle around it and develop into an airport city.
The Enterprise Zones will offer incentives to businesses to locate and expand in these targeted areas - including reduced business tax rates and prioritised super-fast broadband, all as part of plans to grow local economies and jobs by removing barriers for new company start ups.
In Greater Manchester, the Enterprise Zone will centre on the development of an airport city project, which will be a high quality, mixed-use commercial community that makes full use of its location at a major transport interchange with access to rail, metrolink, bus and road networks as well as national and international air travel.
Charlie Cornish, chief executive of Manchester Airports Group (MAG), said: "Manchester Airport is the principal international gateway to the region and is primed for an investment of this scale, amassing over sixty acres. Our development programme will expand the world freight terminal, create new business space, attract global businesses and provide health related uses. It will build upon the proximity of Wythenshawe Hospital as an international centre of excellence, science, research and advanced manufacturing."
John Atkins, managing director of the airport's property department, told the Manchester Evening News: "Airport City will provide the Manchester region with a true international offer and will transform the airport from a transport hub into a business destination. Enterprise Zone status helps attract new investment and brings trade into the country. It is a significant step for the project and one we are extremely pleased to announce. We will try to ensure that the jobs created have local benefits so we can play a part in the regeneration of communities like Wythenshawe."
Manchester Airport has already announced big plans to turn up to 93 hectares of surrounding land into a mixed-use commercial development capable of supporting offices, hotels, commercial plots and logistics warehousing and the new designation is expected to boost these plans.
With road, air and now rail connections in place in the form of the new Metrolink line, which is due to open in 2016, 'Airport City Manchester' will rise over the next 10-20 years and is expected to to create between 7,000 and 13,000 jobs.
