The next steps in creating a Food Enterprise Zone in Holbeach are being taken this week.
Lincolnshire County Council members discussed the possibility of kick-starting Phase 1 of the development.
The council is looking to invest in the zone, on land which was opened-up by the new Peppermint Junction roundabout.
Members of the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee discussed a report on Tuesday.
“Any infrastructure provided could also benefit the early delivery of housing units on Lincolnshire County Council owned land adjacent to the zone,” said a report to the committee.
“Even though the council will not make a direct financial profit from the scheme, its direct intervention will safeguard the long term presence of the University of Lincoln in the south east of the county and provide local food producers with access to the university’s technology resources and expertise,” the report added.
The completion of phase one would see around 16,000 sqm of employment space and the creation of around 400 jobs.
“The university has attracted circa £6m of the public sector funding for the construction of the centre, however this funding carries a strict time limits for expenditure, otherwise it will be lost,” committee members were told at the meeting.
The university is set to submit a detailed planning application to South Holland District Council later this month.
Work could start on site in the autumn and it is estimated that servicing the first tranche of the phase will cost £6.4m.
The university centre is set to open its doors in the spring of 2020.
The total cost of services and roadways to the whole of the first phase is put at around £10 million.
Investment in the infrastructure will also enable earlier development of county council owned land to the east of the A151.
“The whole Food Enterprise Zone site will provide a pipeline of growth for a 15- to 20-year period.”
