Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward (pictured) along with Rob Tincknell, chief executive and founder of Battersea developer Areli Group, have unveiled a new vision for development across the East Midlands at UKREiiF in Leeds.
The plan outlines a coordinated approach to unlocking major development opportunities across the region governed by the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA). These range from the £410m nuclear fusion facility at West Burton, to major commercial and residential schemes in Derby and Nottingham and regeneration prospects for regional towns.
Key elements of the Spatial Vision include the UK’s only inland freeport, as well as enterprise zones with investment incentives in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. Collectively, the developments aim to generate 100,000 full-time jobs, deliver 52,000 new homes, inject £4.6bn into the East Midlands economy and deliver 4.2m sq m of commercial space.
As part of the Spatial Vision, the mayor, Areli Group, and the EMCCA have identified 14 key growth opportunities spanning sectors such as energy, industry, transport, placemaking, and the region’s expanding visitor economy. These include:
- Trent Arc: Encompassing Nottingham and Derby city centres, redevelopment of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar and Willington power station sites, the South Derbyshire Growth Zone, the Infinity Park Investment Zone near Rolls-Royce, East Midlands Intermodal Park near Toyota, and the Toton & Chetwynd area.
- Supercluster: Focused around the West Burton Power Station, which will house the groundbreaking STEP nuclear fusion pilot, along with the Cottam and High Marnham power station sites.
- Canal Corrido: Covering Chesterfield town centre and mainline rail station, the Explore Park Investment Zone, Markham Vale Enterprise Zone and the Hartington and Staveley investment zone.
The Vision also outlines early-stage plans to sustainably grow the visitor economy around the Peak District National Park and the Derbyshire Dales. Other proposals include the creation of a new mixed-use destination near the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, regeneration of towns and villages at the region’s core and The Loop – a 150-mile trail showcasing the East Midlands’ landscapes, heritage and culture.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “I am proud of the region the East Midlands is. We are, simultaneously, a £55bn economy, a world-leading centre for manufacturing and technology, a place of astonishing natural beauty and a region of internationally resonant heritage.
“We are focusing on three in particular: the Trent Arc, which connects Nottingham and Derby, the Canal Corridor, which spans Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, and the Supercluster, which focuses on three of our decommissioned power stations. These opportunities are a path to prosperity that builds on our existing, unique assets and I look forward to sharing them with you.”
Rob Tincknell, chief executive at Areli Group, said: “This is the most significant vision project we’ve been involved in. When you look at the East Midlands’ industrial strengths, the development assets it has and the fact that it’s now got a mayor leading from the front, then this is one of the UK’s most deliverable growth opportunities.
“The UK needs to think bigger than ‘development-as-usual’ and that’s exactly what the East Midlands is doing – taking 14 individual investment opportunities and turning them into one connected project broken down into 14 parts.”
Image: © East Midlands Combined Authority
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