Lancashire’s Local Enterprise Partnership has selected land surrounding two BAE Systems sites near Preston for its Enterprise Zone bid.
The land is located around BAE’s factories at Warton and Samlesbury.
The LEP will target start-up companies and firms aiming to grow in the advanced engineering and manufacturing sector.
The preferred bid was chosen ahead of a proposal to create an Enterprise Zone around the M65 motorway, taking in sites at Blackburn and Burnley.
Edwin Booth, chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said: “The advanced engineering and manufacturing industry is already among Lancashire’s economic strengths, employing thousands of people in some internationally renowned facilities.
“The board feels it is an excellent bid that measures up well against the criteria the government will consider.”
Steve Fogg, director, integrated services at BAE Systems, added: “We believe the proposal we have submitted provides the opportunity to further link two key industrial sites that span Lancashire.”
daniel.cunningham@estatesgazette.com
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