Avonmouth & Severnside Enterprise Area (ASEA) is one of the UK’s most important industrial locations. It plays a major role in attracting global and regional investment by creating the right conditions for business and industry to thrive.
An industrial location of internationally significant scale, it extends for five miles along the Severn Estuary, covering some 1,800 hectares. The last ten years has seen extensive re-development of sites in the Enterprise Area, sustaining business growth and jobs.
The risks of flooding at the Enterprise Area will increase over time due to climate change and rising sea levels. Flood risk is a key constraint for the future growth of the Enterprise Area. Until now, existing landowners were taking action to raise site levels to protect themselves from flooding – sometimes leading to an increased risk on other sites.
Now, a joined-up, comprehensive approach to improving the flood defences gives businesses the long-term confidence to invest in ASEA and supports future development proposals in the planning system, since flood risk is less likely to be an objection.
The new flood defences will help to unlock the full economic potential of the Enterprise Area, including the creation of 12,000 new jobs by 2026.
This project is part of wider infrastructure investment into the Enterprise Area, including funding for a new junction direct to the M49, improved public transport and the installation of full fibre broadband. There is also a proposal seeking funding to create a skills academy with a focus on the area’s growing industrial sectors.
As infrastructure investment continues, including the completion of the flood defences, the location is expected to attract major manufacturing, logistics, distribution and green/ environmental technology companies over the next 30-40 years.
There are two main areas of economic activity – Avonmouth in the south and Severnside in the north. Avonmouth is the closest port to the main centres of UK population, with 42 million people living within a radius of 250 kilometres. In 2018, the three largest sectors in ASEA were Advanced Engineering and Aerospace (AEA) (c.32%), Distribution (c.28%) and Construction (c.15%).
These key areas of employment in Avonmouth Severnside reflect its attractiveness as an area for large-scale industrial and distribution, energy generation and waste management uses, in addition to the activities of the port and its associated industries.
The project partners are providing essential support to enable sustainable economic growth in ASEA which is likely to result in significant benefits for the wider area.
This project creates great impetus for economic development in the region. It’s a huge boost and without it the Enterprise Area couldn’t come forward. I’m delighted to have visited the site and seen the brilliant progress that’s being made. We’re really pleased to see so much being delivered.
ASEA.PLO@BAMNuttall.co.uk
