Purpose

To approve the expenditure of up to
£7.229 million of allocated capital funding to progress
delivery of Ross Enterprise Park (phase 1) into the next phase of
construction, and to undertake procurement for a main contractor
and other essential suppliers to deliver those works.

Decision

a)   
To approve expenditure of up to £7.229 million for
construction works as set out in Appendices 1 to 3 and associated
activity to secure delivery of phase 1 development of Ross
Enterprise Park; and
 

b)   
To delegate to the Director for Growth authority for all
operational decisions necessary to deliver the works in (a),
including the agreement and implementation of a suitable
procurement strategy to secure the necessary suppliers.

Alternative options considered

1.    
Do nothing: Do not develop Ross Enterprise Park and allow the
market to meet the employment need of the Ross on Wye locality.
This option has been discounted as there is an observed market
failure for the delivery of new employment space of any scale
within Herefordshire. The opportunity to obtain the benefits of the
scheme would be lost. This is not recommended.
 

2.    
Utilise an alternative delivery model: No other viable delivery
models have been identified, but the proposed development model has
been used with success at Skylon Park, Hereford Enterprise Zone.
Efforts have been made to secure gap funding and Enterprise Zone
status from the Government. However as a result of the highly
competitive nature of the initiatives, those applications were
ultimately unsuccessful. This is not recommended.