Economic Development Strategy & Action Plan 2024 - 2028

Area of strategic focus 4: Inward Investment

What we have achieved

Major growth locations

Major Growth locations in South Kesteven were put before and approved the Council's Planning Team as follows:

Bourne

• Riverside Business Park
  • Located on the east side of Bourne, the site is made up of a three-phase development which was approved in 2016 and 2019.
  • The site has outline consent for 18 small light industrial units and 15 larger varied industrial units with which is hoped to encourage the growth and expansion of local businesses.

Grantham

• Spitalgate Garden Village
  • Located on the southern fringe of Grantham, covering an area of approximately 224 hectares.
  • 3,700-home garden village that will include shops, schools and a health centre.
  • The site is set to include around 45 hectares of B2, B8 and E(g) employment generating uses.
• Spittlgate Level
  • Located In southern Grantham as part of the wider Grantham Strategic Gateway employment allocation.
  • Recent outline approval for Carta Real Estate Limited
  • Comprises 43,200 sqm of B2-class floorspace and 43,200 sqm of B8-class floorspace.
• Prince William of Gloucester Barracks
  • Due for decommissioning as a British Army installation in 2028, after which the site is expected to commence with 1,245 dwellings anticipated to be delivered between 2026/2027 and 2035/2036, with a further 2,755 beyond 2036.
  • The site is set to include around 8 hectares of employment land for E(g) employment generating uses.
• Rioja Designer Outlet Village
  • With the construction of the new junction south of Grantham on the A1, the Grantham Designer Outlet Village is expected to be one of the few outlets in the UK to have both visibility and direct access from a major highway.
  • The aim is to create a state-of-the-art retail destination, which upon completion is expected to realise a total of 137 units.
• Grantham Downtown designer outlet centre
  • Sitting alongside the existing Downtown store off Old Great North Road, Great Gonerby.
  • The site is set to feature more than 100 individual designer outlet stores, 1,979 parking spaces, offices, leisure provision, a training academy, multi-storey car park, tourist information and visitor centre.
• Roseland Business Park
  • There has been a recent approval on the disused airfield section of Roseland Business Park for 82,700 sqm of B8-class storage uses.

Stamford

• St Martin's Park
  • Outline approval granted in 2020
  • This high-quality mixed use development will comprise 10,000m2 (GIA) of B1 (offices and workshops), c190 dwellings, a retirement village including ancillary facilities, residential (30% affordable housing), local foodstore and café, public open space including strategic landscaping at the eastern end of the site, and all associated infrastructure.
• Stamford North
  • A development led by Burghley Huse Preservation Trust with GummerLeathes, a master developer. The aspiration is to establish a beautiful, thriving and sustainable new community.
  • Located in a small valley directly to the north of Stamford, it will become home to up to 1,350 households, and will be the largest part of the Stamford Urban Extension.
  • The site is currently at the application stage and not yet allocated within the Local Plan.

The Deepings

• Whilst two strategic development sites - the expansion of an industrial estate and employment generating land - have been allocated in the current Local Plan period, neither have planning permission.

Commenced partial review of the Local Plan

The current Local Plan was adopted in January 2020. The Council is now focusing its ambitions on building more affordable homes and planning for major growth. To address these priorities, a partial review of the adopted Local Plan is underway.

The new and revised policies will together contribute to the vision of making South Kesteven a fairer and more inclusive District where residents benefits from the opportunities new developments bring, and workers and visitors from all backgrounds feel welcome and safe.

What we will do

Support for foreign-owned businesses

• Work with the Department of International Trade (DiT) to help all foreign-owned businesses in South Kesteven to grow.

Produce a pitch book with accompanying aerial filming and motion graphics

• Develop an investment prospectus to promote the District regionally and nationally as an excellent location for inward investment, business expansion and quality of life. As the investment in serviced land and premises comes to fruition, use the Council's key strategic investment sites as a pitch book to attract both indigenous companies to grow and diversify, and inward investment.
• These pitch book projects will be a focal point for the Council's pursuit of Government, and other agency funding, as the District looks to pilot schemes where the potential economic impact is justified, yet may not be fully evidenced.
• This approach will include collaborating with Lincolnshire County Council to capitalise on the benefits of the Team Lincolnshire brand.

Develop investment-ready projects

• In supporting the delivery of the Local Plan, develop a pipeline of future District Council projects to ensure the substantial level of growth planned within South Kesteven can be accommodated without being detrimental to levels of accessibility, connectivity and services.

Enhance digital connectivity

• Support and unlock investment in the roll-out of gigabit-capable internet across the District.
• Work in partnership with housing, planning and the highways authority to develop digital-friendly local planning and street works policies. Implement good practice from other areas to help breakdown barriers and speed up roll-out of digital infrastructure in South Kesteven.

Champion a stronger local economy

• Work with key public sector partners such as Greater Lincolnshire LEP and Team Lincolnshire to promote South Kesteven as a prime location for inward investment, including foreign direct investment, new projects, expansions, mergers and acquisitions.
• This includes showcasing investment opportunities and access to talent at appropriate trade shows and national forums such as the UKREiiF (the UK's Real Estate Investment and Infrastructure Forum).

Support business expansion and talent attraction

• Create the right conditions and supportive environment to help businesses locate, relocate, rebuild and develop new ventures, especially in emerging sectors. Develop strong relationships between the community, industry and education partners.

Supply sites for industry

• Ensure a healthy supply of land for businesses and employers across South Kesteven through the Local Plan. This includes, where appropriate, bringing forward Council-owned land that becomes available as public sector services are deployed to alternative sites in the District.

Increase partnership working with developers and investors

• Work in partnership with developers that meet the needs of investors and provide high-quality employment opportunities, especially but not limited, to target growth sectors such as manufacturing and engineering, construction, professional, technical and scientific services, the health sector and the recreation and arts sectors.
• With the support of the planning team, design and implement a model for more effective use of planning obligations to support economic development activity.

Support innovation and enterprise

• Support and deliver sites and premises in locations across South Kesteven that will secure further public and private investment in innovation and enterprise activities.

Optimise local benefits of nationally significant infrastructure projects

• Support and work to maximise the local economic benefits of nationally significant infrastructure projects that are planned for delivery in South Kesteven over the coming years.