A major scheme to upgrade the electricity supply at Snetterton Heath in south Norfolk - which it is hoped will be a catalyst for significant business growth in the area - is to go ahead after New Anglia LEP agreed to put £2.3 million into the project. New Anglia LEP is putting the funds towards an application from Breckland Council to support its £3 million Snetterton Electricity Power Upgrade project.
The scheme aims to expand Snetterton Heath’s capacity and electricity supply support to accomodate substantial industrial growth at the site and hopefully create over 1,700 new jobs. The LEP’s funding will be alongside further private and public sector investment to enable the £3m scheme to progress.
Snetterton Heath is seen as a key employment site by Breckland Council and the New Anglia LEP and a strategic site in the new Cambridge Norwich A11 Tech Corridor, which seeks to take advantage of the dualling of the A11.
The current power capacity at this large industrial site is nearing 100% usage by existing firms. The funding is expected, as a minimum, to triple the power capability at Snetterton by laying additional high voltage underground cables from Attleborough to a new substation at Snetterton; which is key for engineering and manufacturing companies.
The upgraded power connection is expected to be completed towards the end of 2018. It has been made possible thanks to an earlier investment by Breckland Council to secure the power option with UK Power Networks, a distribution network operator for electricity, while full funding for the project was sought.
Chris Starkie, managing director of New Anglia LEP, said: “This investment will allow for existing businesses to expand and attract new employers to the area, helping towards our ambition of creating 95,000 new jobs across Norfolk and Suffolk by 2026 – a target which we’re already over one third of the way towards achieving.
“Boosting the power capability at Snetterton Heath will unlock the site’s potential for growth and, importantly, lead to the creation of new jobs. This is a really positive development for the local area and we’re pleased to be working with Breckland District Council to support the power upgrade project.”
Cllr Phil Cowen, Breckland’s Executive Member of Growth and Commercialisation, said: “Securing this funding support from the LEP means we can now overcome the single major barrier to attracting new businesses to Snetterton Heath – the limited power supply.
“The relatively recent dualling of the A11 and the creation of the Cambridge Norwich A11 Tech Corridor means there is a great opportunity to capitalise on Snetterton Heath’s location, availability of flat land and improved road transport links. I’m delighted that the first major development on the A11 since dualling was completed will be in Breckland.
“We have been working closely with local Snetterton companies and landowners to establish the best way to overcome the current electricity supply limitations and this successful bid to the New Anglia LEP is one very positive outcome of this cooperation.
“Snetterton Heath can now be properly established as a key site in the A11 focused tech corridor. We hope to complement the established automotive sector and precision engineering companies in the area by encouraging companies from the fields of advanced manufacturing, engineering and agri-tech to the area. This will create new, higher skilled – and higher paying – jobs, which provide an opportunity to grow local talent to meet this demand.
“We also hope to support companies from the fields of logistics, distribution and food production, which already have a presence in Snetterton.”