A MAJOR study is to be carried out to find out whether enough land is available in Suffolk to meet employment and economic development needs in the county over the next 12 years.

A MAJOR study is to be carried out to find out whether enough land is available in Suffolk to meet employment and economic development needs in the county over the next 12 years.

The Haven Gateway Partnership has taken on property consultant GVA Grimley to carry out the study which will be completed next month.

The organisation will consult with businesses and other interested parties before examining existing land supply and putting forward a list of recommendations.

David Ralph, chief executive of the Haven Gateway Partnership said: “The Suffolk part of the Haven Gateway has been set a challenging target of achieving 30,000 additional jobs by 2021.

“Although in the current economic climate we are all concerned about jobs, the area has some strong economic drivers such as the Haven Ports and Adastral Park.

“These drivers, together with a wide range of micro businesses should provide the framework to underpin recovery. “However, we still need to make sure that we have enough of the right kind of land in the right locations and take all other necessary steps to ensure the delivery of these new jobs in both rural and urban locations.”

Michael Dall, a senior economic consultant with GVA Grimley, said: “The study will look overall at if there is enough land and if there is, where should it be focused.

“If there is enough then it we would be looking to see if that area is the most suitable to have as more employment land.

“The recommendations will then be around where the locations of employment growth will be and specific sites where that might happen - just for an example we could say more land was needed at an industrial park in Martlesham.”

The study will be completed in early July and more details about the consultation will be published on this website and the Choose Suffolk website shortly.

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WHAT IS THE PARTNERSHIP?

The Haven Gateway Partnership - made up of local authorities and other organisations - launched in 2001 and brings together the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich, Ipswich, Mistley and the surrounding areas.

It was set up to promote and develop commercial, social and environmental needs of the areas and has earmarked key priorities including improvements to the rail and road infrastructure, education and training, tourism and regeneration.

It has commissioned the study on behalf of Ipswich Borough, Babergh and Suffolk Coastal District Councils and Suffolk County Council.