Insider Media Limited

The Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP has described its failure to secure an enterprise zone as "a bittersweet moment", as its neighbouring LEP's i54 business park submission was green-lighted.

Chancellor George Osborne yesterday (17 August) announced the final sites in England which were awarded enterprise zone status. The only West Midlands location to receive approval in the second wave was Hereford's Rotherwas Business Park.

It was also revealed that the Black Country – which was named as one of the first ten zones to achieve the status – would host its enterprise zone on the i54 business park.

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire's LEP board said the site, which runs into the south of the county, was "internationally important and critical to the drive to put Staffordshire at the heart of job creation nationally".

Chairman Maitland Hyslop said: "The i54 decision for the south of the county is a great vote of confidence for the region, but the decision on the Etruria Valley focused zone is of course a disappointment.

"Our determination and belief in the area are absolutely undaunted. We are generating an impressive investment package that has put us in pole position for future investment."

The approved Black Country zone comprises several sites situated in Darlaston and i54 - Wolverhampton North, spread over 120 hectares.

It is expected to create almost 4,000 new jobs by 2015 in advanced manufacturing and environmental technologies including aerospace, automotive and engineering.

Stuart Towe, chairman of the Black Country LEP board, said: "I am optimistic that we can maximise the impact of the zone locations ensuring that not only are benefits of job growth realised for the whole of the Black Country but also that the enterprise zone is used to unlock other potential development areas in the Black Country."