An expansion of the Holbeach Food Enterprise Zone (FEZ) is being proposed.
It’s been announced as part of a £20m Local Growth Plan by Lincolnshire County Council over the next five years aiming to attract new businesses and create 3,000 jobs.
The next phase of the Holbeach FEZ in South Holland is being viewed as the best option for stimulating the agricultural sector, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Jamie Waller.
Other projects that will be looked as part of the investment are a purpose built facility for defence contract, an advanced manufacturing hub in Grantham and more business spaces in 12 other towns, though none in South Holland.
The Local Growth Plan is something central government announced every authority had to carry out, ‘to bring investment forward at pace’, the report to LCC’s Economy Scrutiny Committee states.
It also states that the county council would get its money back from charging rent on the project.
“The strongest option to stimulate further investment in the food manufacturing sector is to unlock the next phase of Holbeach Food Enterprise Zone,” the report states. “This would consolidate the council’s existing investment in the food sector and in South Holland.
“LCC has already demonstrated a strong commitment to make the FEZ a successful business location and has invested to secure the long-term success of the scheme by acquiring additional land and securing a suitable power supply for Phase II.
“For these reasons, further investment to provide the site service roads to access the individual development plots is recommended.
“The FEZ site would be likely to trigger investment, and because the University of Lincoln has a campus which is adjacent to the FEZ; this in turn is likely to generate more small business activity in the immediate vicinity.”
Meanwhile the county council has announced the latest business to move into its The Hub site at the FEZ.
Fairman Knight and Sons UK upcycle organic food waste using ‘bioconversion’ into Black Soldier Fly larvae which is dried and used as sustainable pet, animal and aquaculture feed as a sustainable low carbon alternative to soya.
The waste from production makes a high quality fertilizer and the larvae can be further rendered to a highly anti-microbial bio-oil that could supplement antibiotics.
The sustainable family farming business moved from its former base at a farm north of Grantham and is developing an operational site in Spalding.
Julian Knight, co-founder of Fairman-Knight and Sons, said: “We wanted to set up a sustainable family farming business that would stand the test of the next 30 years.
“Essentially we produce a low carbon animal protein and one of most sustainable fertilizers possible – and we have zero waste.
“We wanted to be close to our partners in the University of Lincoln and close to our main production site. We are an Agritech business so we want to be based in this new centre for the industry.
“We plan to have two production sites operational in 2025 in Greater Lincolnshire with a minimum of 20 staff employed.”
Coun Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy at the county council, said:
“Fairman Knight is clearly an innovative business and has chosen to benefit from the opportunities on offer by being located at The Hub. Food and farming is evolving and sustainability and research will be at the heart of it.
“The South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone is leading the way nationally in supporting this vital sector.”
