Devon welcomes assisted areas announcement

Devon County Council has warmly welcomed the Government announcement that the second stage of the 2014-2020 Assisted Areas Map Consultation has been launched.

The consultation will establish the areas of the UK where regional aid and enhanced levels of Government assistance will be available to support disadvantaged economies and the businesses within these.

The County Council has been working very closely with the Heart of the South West LEP and MPs to make the case for a significant increase in the areas of Devon that are covered. Included in the latest draft map are the Newton Abbot area, which builds on the benefits of the South Devon Link Road, Totnes, South West Devon, Torridge and some parts of North Devon.

Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth, said: “Devon County Council has been working very closely with the Heart of the South West LEP, MPs and Government Departments to make the case for increasing eligible Government Assisted Areas across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay. The published map is a draft for consultation, but we very much welcome the additions which have been made as a result of our work to date.

“The County Council has been lobbying to ensure more of rural Devon and some of our market towns are included in this map to ensure they achieve the maximum benefit for the local economy from the support that’s available. There is an overwhelming case for the granting of Assisted Area status to the areas of our county included in the current draft because these local economies are still not performing as well as many parts of the country, but there are significant opportunities within these areas, which we have highlighted to Government. We will now be ensuring that we provide a sound response to help shape the final Assisted Areas Map for the next six years. This includes proposing the addition of further areas in North Devon.”

The proposed Assisted Areas, announced today by the Rt Hon Michael Fallon, Minister of State For Business and Energy, have been selected through a combination of the economic need of the locality as well as potential to use regional aid to encourage economic growth by attracting private sector investment.

The latest stage of consultation will be open until Friday 7 February 2014.