Building on the resurgence of advanced manufacturing and Government’s re-commitment to positioning the UK as a leading force in the global advanced engineering and manufacturing arena, a supplier park situated on the former Michelin site will complement the Lancashire Enterprise Zone at Samlesbury and Warton, which will become a national focal point for the sector, and a driving force for the Lancashire economy. Lancashire is one of the most important centres for high technology manufacturing in the UK, second only to the South East. Accounting for a quarter of local GVA, the sector directly and indirectly affects all aspects of Lancashire’s £23.3bn economy.
The Burnley Aerospace Supplier Park site will support growth and capacity in the supply chain, enabling SMEs to gain efficiencies from modern premises, accommodate growth and benefit from collaborative services.
The site is already part occupied by Aircelle, part of the French owned Saffron Group, which employs over 900 people, and specialises in manufacturing parts for the Airbus Dreamliner. Hychrome, part of US owned Score GP and local business BCW, are also located on the site and are growing in the supply chain.
Research shows that businesses in the target sectors need designated sites with modern premises. There is a latent demand in the area for quality industrial space from local firms seeking to grow. Research highlights that a lack of appropriate sites and ageing stock of premises acts as a barrier to winning investment and supporting growth in the aerospace and advanced manufacturing supply chain.
The site will aim to provide the opportunity to create 1,000 high value jobs, capitalising on new and emerging market opportunities in the aerospace and advanced engineering and manufacturing sector.
Local Development Order
Local Development Orders (LDOs) were introduced with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and allow local planning authorities to extend permitted development rights for certain forms of development. The Planning Act 2008 removes the requirement that LDOs should implement policies set out in adopted local development documents.
The purpose of the Local Development Order is to accelerate development at the Burnley Aerospace Supplier Park site through simplifying the planning permission requirements on the site. This will give businesses and developers more certainty in an uncertain economic climate by detailing the specific types of development and uses which are permitted.
Adopted Local Development Order
The Local Development Order was adopted by the Council on 1st August 2013.
Amendment to the LDO
A review of the success of the impact of the Burnley Aerospace Supplier Park LDO has revealed that since the adoption of the LDO in 2013, the Burnley Aerospace Supplier Park has attracted 6 new businesses to Innovation Drive; created 196 new jobs; safeguarded 179 jobs in Burnley; and seen 17,000 sqm of new and refurbished floorspace by June 2016.
Following this review, the document was amended on 1st July 2016, in order to account for an updated SIC code, and to remove the original expiry date. The LDO will be in operation permanently, but will be reviewed annually to determine whether the document’s status should be maintained.
Previous Stages of Preparation – Draft Local Development Order
A Draft Development Order was prepared for public consultation. Consultation on the Draft Development Order ran from 19th April 2013 until 5pm on 17th May 2013.
