New enterprise village '˜could create up to 200 jobs' in Old Dalby

The enterprise village, which is being developed adjacent to the Crown Business Park, could become home to as many as 25 new businesses.

Business owners and potential investors who are interested in the potential for acquiring a commercial building plot are being invited to open day events on July 6 and 7 to meet with the developers.

Creator of the enterprise village concept Roy Haywood, chief executive of Haywood Estates (UK) LLP, said: “Our team has been involved in developing various types of business parks in the south of England, the Midlands and South Wales over the last 20 years, including Crown Business Park at Old Dalby.

“Our experience over this period has highlighted the scarcity of commercial building land in this area, available at a size and budget that small businesses can afford. If they do acquire a small parcel of land to build on, then the cost of constructing an access road and commissioning mains services to be connected to their site can be prohibitive.

“Our approach has been to develop a fully serviced site for the enterprise village by preparing the land so it is suitable for construction of buildings, create the village access roads and install all of the required infrastructure, including mains electricity, mains water, sewerage, drainage and telecommunications to building plots of varying sizes, then complete the site with street lighting, signage and landscaping.”

Development of the enterprise village project has been supported by the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP) through the Growing Places Fund. There are also a number of business support schemes and grants available to small businesses and details of these can be obtained from the economic development team at Melton Council.

Mr Haywood added: “We adopt a bespoke policy to the sale of freehold plots, so individual business owners can choose the size and location of plot within the village. Having a variety of different sized freehold plots, with good infrastructure, services and access, allows flexibility for small businesses to expand, or contract, as the need develops. Many small business owners would much prefer to invest in their own land and property, rather than pay rent to a landlord over an extensive period, and be able to design a building that will better suit their current and future operational needs.”

Freehold building plots at the enterprise village cost from about £55,000 for a small plot up to about £190,000 for much larger plots. Each freehold purchaser will be responsible for submitting their individual building design for detailed planning approval.

Anyone interested in attending the open days to view the enterprise village site and meet the developers is invited to call Andrew Coupe at Haywood Estates (UK) LLP in advance on 07530 908703, email [email protected] to make an appointment or alternatively turn up at the event on Wednesday, July 6 between 10am and 6pm, or Thursday, July 7 between 8am and 3pm.