THE Alconbury Weald enterprise zone will bid for a share of a £59million pot that has been announced by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.

The Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough local enterprise partnership (LEP) will apply for a share of the funding, which will be used to unlock infrastructure directly linked with the delivery of jobs and homes within the enterprise zone and development.

Grahame Nix, chairman of the LEP, said: “We welcome the proposed additional funding support from Government for infrastructure to support the development of our enterprise zone at Alconbury.

“The LEP will be working with partners to submit a bid in due course. Work is already progressing well at Alconbury enterprise campus, with the new access road open, a planning application in for the overall site, and planning approval for the new incubator building.

“In addition, we have the first tenant on site. This funding will help ensure we continue to make excellent progress in developing the site and attracting businesses to Alconbury.”

Mr Pickles said: “Economic growth is this Government’s biggest priority, and enterprise zones are the engine room of that strategy. They are a fantastic way to attract the jobs and business investment that local areas need.

“This new £60m fund will turbo- charge that engine by turning shovel ready sites into job ready sites.”