Government Reveals Food Enterprise Zones Plan

The ‘zones’ involved in the campaign are Cheshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Somerset, South Downs, West Sussex and Worcestershire.

The move aims to make it easier for existing food and farming businesses to grow, and to attract new businesses to the area, in order to create new jobs, protect the countryside and boost local economies. Grants of up to £50,000 are being offered to set up FEZs, which are based around Local Development Orders.

It will also allow for decisions regarding development and planning issues in the food and farming sector to be made locally.

Elizabeth Truss, Environment Secretary said, “Food Enterprise Zones will help unlock the potential of local food and farming businesses, boosting local economies and attracting more investment.

“Consumers both here and abroad want to buy Great British food. These zones will ensure we can grow more top quality produce and expand our food and farming industry, which is worth more than £100 billion a year to the UK economy and is our largest manufacturing sector, worth more than cars and aerospace combined.

“Food and farming is at the heart of our long-term economic plan and vital to securing Britain’s economic future.”