Plans have now been submitted for a new business innovation park in Newport which is set to be the international centre for the innovation of advanced agri-technologies. The park will aim to attract companies at the cutting edge of developing ways to improve food production and help manage the environmental impact of farming.
The initiative is part of a public-private partnership led by Telford & Wrekin Council and supported by Harper Adams University.
The application follows on from the Government’s Department of International Trade hailing Telford and Wrekin as an international focus for new foreign inward investment in this emerging sector.
It is seen as a key element of the Newport Innovation and Enterprise Package (NIE’) which recently secured £6.36m funding from the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership under the Local Growth Fund. The delivery of Ni-Park aims to provide a significant economic boost to Newport and the local area.
The application proposes the development of up to 38,720 sq.m of floor space together with an internal road layout, the creation of two entrances on the south side of the A518, which will be upgraded, as well as parking spaces and landscaping works.
Subject to planning, the site will be split into three phases with full planning permission sought for Phase One which will accommodate 24 units for established small businesses seeking to expand. Outline consent is sought for the rest of the site which will be released in response to occupier demand.
Pre-application public consultation on draft proposals late last year indicated support for the development from a majority of respondents, who welcomed the investment and new job generation.
Councillor Lee Carter, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for Economic Development, said “There is pent up demand for business space in Newport and a significant lack of supply. If approved, Ni-Park will deliver new high quality space at a scale to meet the needs of businesses looking to base their operations in the region. Working in association with Harper Adams University, the park will be a world-leading agri-tech research and innovation hub, putting the UK at the forefront of high efficiency agriculture."
