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The Marches LEP has put forward a bid to create an enterprise zone in Herefordshire which could create more than 6,500 jobs.

A proposal centred on Rotherwas Park, a 40-acre site, has been earmarked for the development of private sector employment.

A report assessing possible sites concluded that Rotherwas Park, with a focus on sectors including defence, held the best potential.

Dr Geoffrey Davies, chairman of The Marches LEP, said proposals from sites in Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire and Herefordshire had all been assessed prior to a decision being made.

He said: "Hereford is home to a world-recognised brand in the defence industry, the SAS, which has led to a growing cluster of defence-related businesses. We have also taken into account the key growing environmental technologies and advanced engineering sectors, as well as the benefits of the new direct road link to the A49 from Rotherwas and access to high-speed wireless broadband, when making this decision."

The majority of the Rotherwas site is owned by Herefordshire County Council, with some of the land available immediately for development and all of the site available by early 2013.

Davies added: "There will be disappointment that other sites in the region cannot go forward to a full application, but we have to act in the best interests of the Marches region as a whole and we believe this bid stands the greatest chance of success."