RGF rejection is "major blow" for Boots site
Councillors have blasted the decision not to invest any Regional Growth Fund (RGF) cash into Nottingham's Boots enterprise zone.
Nottingham City Council and its LEP partners said the scheme could be "significantly impacted" after it was confirmed that bids of more than £100m to boost the enterprise zone had been rejected.
The council said it was now calling on the government to consider alternative funding options for the site.
Infrastructure issues such as flood risk, building conservation status and site access were identified as having the potential to hold up the zone's progress.
Graham Chapman, deputy leader of the council, said: "This is a big blow for Boots. The proposed new enterprise zone on the Boots campus could bring thousands of jobs to the local area. Given the zone’s high profile, the fact that the prime minister and the deputy prime minister unveiled it in person to announce their new flagship policy, it’s in the government’s interests to make this work.
"As such I am calling on the government to help us to find an appropriate solution. The RGF is a third of what it was. It clearly isn’t enough to create growth. It needs replenishing."
