Gravity: Local FAQs
Q: Is the Gravity site going to be housing?
Myth busting is an important part of communications to ensure accuracy and to avoid worries or concerns that may then arise from incorrect information. The Gravity team are picking up on two queries this week from the community which we are happy to provide a response on. The Gravity site is a unique site locally, regionally and even internationally. It is a large, flat site, with excellent road access with opportunities to restore the rail line. This combined with its existing water abstraction licences, dark fibre, and energy connections, makes the site most suitable for a modern, clean, business use. The site is employment led, with plans to create up to 7,500 jobs in higher value, higher wage industry that is future facing, creating that long term, sustained employment for the community. Part of the Local Development Order includes up to 750 homes for the workforce.. should this be needed to support key workers. Therefore in practical terms there may be no new homes on site for the workforce, or a higher number, up to the ‘cap’. The priority however is to train and develop a local workforce: delivering Clean and Inclusive Growth.
Q: Has Gravity has run out of money?
This is Gravity Ltd is the company behind Gravity the site. This is Gravity has spent over £40m remediating the site, securing a new form of planning permission called the Local Development Order, and constructing the link road, as well as preparing the site to be in a ‘ready state’ to attract a high value occupier. The Gravity site is an enterprise zone agreed with Government, and this requires a planning permission to attract investors and occupiers - in the case the LDO – funded completely by This is Gravity, in exchange for business rates retention locally. Normally business rates are collected by councils and returned to Central Government. In this case, the Councils will hold all of the business rate income and can spend some of these funds on accelerating progress on the enterprise zone and to attract quality occupiers. It is the governance and principles of how this will be managed by councils that is under discussion as this is a strategic role for them as they are ultimately responsible for the economic wellbeing of the area. As will any successful projects, each stakeholder has to play their part. If this is managed well, business rates income to councils will be maximised and councils can invest in mitigation and management measures to ensure the success of the enterprise zone as such as prioritising workforce development and training, as well as key strategic projects, and reduce their overall debt.
Queries: If you have any queries, please let the staff know or email info@thisisgravity.co.uk and we can assist.
Best wishes Gravity Team