A Sheffield City Region backed investment project with Doncaster Sheffield Airport at its centre has been selected to be a part of the government’s Northern Powerhouse Investment Portfolio.

The portfolio was unveiled today (November 10) by the Northern Powerhouse Minister, Andrew Percy and backed by Chancellor, Philip Hammond and International Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox as part of the eighth UK-China Economic and Financial Dialogue, with a senior delegation from China visiting the UK led by Chinese Vice Premier Ma Kai.

The Aero Centre Yorkshire (ACY) project from the Peel Group encases the airport with 1600 acres of land primed for development, 5.5 million square feet of potential employment space including 10 hectares of Enterprise Zone. The project’s 20 year vision would see £6.7bn of cumulative GVA delivered to the Sheffield City Region, £1.7bn of construction investment and around 14,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The government’s Northern Powerhouse Investment Portfolio to attract significant investment to the North, invited investor ready projects from across the North, to be put forward for inclusion through a competitive bid process led by the Department of International Trade.

The portfolio, which features only 13 projects selected from across the North, will be showcased by the government during the visit and in future trade missions, aiming to attract investment to the UK and the Sheffield City Region.

Aero Centre Yorkshire is a unique investment opportunity, with a regional airport primed to deliver large scale capability for both passengers and cargo acting as catalyst for wider business investment. The land is consented for development of advanced manufacturing premises, bespoke hangers, industrial units, commercial developments, logistic operations and residential development.

The location of Aero Centre Yorkshire offers real connectivity across the UK with direct motorway network access from the airport site through the Great Yorkshire Way link road to the M18, the site is located just under a mile from the East Coast Main Line and the airport offers access to global travel hubs and a thriving cargo business.

Steve Gill, chief executive of Doncaster Sheffield Airport said:

We are delighted Aero Centre Yorkshire has been selected to be one of the schemes that the Northern Powerhouse Investment Portfolio will showcase internationally and will be supported at the top level of government. Aero Centre Yorkshire is a truly national prospect with unconstrained development opportunity, excellent transport links both to the UK and internationally, with our airport, one of the fastest growing the UK at its core.

Sir Nigel Knowles, Sheffield City Region LEP, said:

Sheffield City Region is at the forefront of the Northern Powerhouse with national and global investors showing increased confidence and interest in being part of our success story. With everyone pulling together behind our key investment opportunities we are building a truly competitive centre of business excellence.

For further information about Aero Centre Yorkshire visit www.aero-centre.com