Freeport aims to drive ‘strategic growth’ in Ipswich and Colchester
Freeport East plans to focus on facilitating ‘strategic growth’ across Ipswich and Colchester in 2026. New commercial space linked to garden communities, university-led innovation hubs and research-based economic development are envisaged. The freeport zone – which seeks to boost growth and offers customs and tax incentives at various sites in Suffolk and Essex – will also prioritise critical transport infrastructure, underlined by the recent approval for expansion at Stansted Airport and improvements to the A120. At the start of its fourth year Freeport East CEO Steve Beel said: “The ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich continue to act as a key attraction for many advanced manufacturers, traders and clean energy companies looking to grow in the UK. In addition, the growing depth of digital technology and defence capabilities in the region, together with alignment with our world-class universities, presents a range of high value opportunities we look forward to pursuing into 2026.” Last year, Freeport East ‘advanced’ £250m of private sector investment across its sites, enabled over £200m of international inward investment into the wider region, invested nearly £20m in skills, innovation and business growth. It also set out plans for up to 500MW of new electricity grid capacity. Freeport East also opened a new head office and innovation hub in Harwich. Meanwhile, the recent consent for the Five Estuaries Offshore Wind Farm, off Harwich, boosted the region’s ambitions to be a clean energy sector hub. Photo: New developments at Gateway 14 in Stowmarket.
Norfolk-based plastics company sold to national group
Norfolk-based Coda Plastics and its parent company, Campbell & Tate, have been sold to a national business, Newship Group, in a deal where law firm Birketts advised the sellers. Founded in 1973 and based in North Walsham, Coda Plastics has grown into a leading UK manufacturer of plastic packaging solutions for a wide range sectors, including food and drink, household, and healthcare. The sale marks a milestone for the Tate and Campbell families, who have overseen the company’s growth over decades. Privately-owned Newship Group operates diversified businesses across Europe. Ed Savory, who led the Birketts team, said: “Coda Plastics has built a strong reputation in the packaging industry, and this transaction represents an exciting new chapter for the business.”
Asset manager buys Norwich retail & leisure venue with plans to add ‘entertainment brands’
Castle Quarter, the retail and leisure venue in Norwich, has been sold to private clients of asset manager Maritime Capital. Opened in 1993 as Castle Mall, it was the city’s first indoor shopping mall before rebranding as Castle Quarter and changing into a social, leisure and lifestyle destination. Today, it has a 50/50 split between retail and leisure/entertainment tenants and has retained its pre-covid footfall levels. Richmond-based Maritime Capital is a family-owned and run asset management business founded by Toby Hunter and Max Hunter in 2013. Max Hunter said: “We chose to purchase Castle Quarter because it has so much potential. We were very impressed by the transformation that the centre has undertaken over the past five or so years…. Our plan is to bring in even more entertainment brands to cement Castle Quarter’s position as the number one leisure venue in Norfolk.”
Passenger numbers take off at London Southend Airport
London Southend Airport lifted passenger numbers by 150 per cent to 720,000 last year, the busiest year for the Essex gateway since 2019. The airport’s top five routes in 2025 were Palma, Malaga, Amsterdam, Alicante and Paris. CEO Jude Winstanley said: “Finishing 2025 as the UK’s fastest-growing airport is marvellous and we fully expect 2026 to be another busy year for us.” New routes to Barcelona, Berlin, Ibiza, Jersey and Munich are on sale for summer 2026 and London Southend will offer 26 routes over the next 12 months.
Separately, Turkish Airlines, will launch services from London Stansted airport in March flying to Istanbul (photo, right) up to 15 times a week, and opening up onward connections to some 353 destinations across Asia, Africa, Australia and beyond. Meanwhile, Ryanair is adding flights to Malmo in Sweden from April, twice weekly, and more services to Glasgow from March. easyJet will start flying to Paris Charles de Gaulle from March, while AJet will launch flights to Bodrum in Turkey from June. Meanwhile, London Stansted’s planning application to increase its annual passenger limit up to 51 million passengers was approved by the local Uttlesford DC before Christmas. The airport had its busiest-ever year in 2025 as passenger numbers passed the 30m milestone.
Property firm expands with new office in Basildon
Property firm Fenn Wright is opening a new office in Basildon, Essex as part of its ongoing expansion. Partner John Logan, who will lead the team staffing the office, said: “This new office gives us the ability to respond to the needs of existing clients in and around Basildon, whilst allowing us to build relationships with new businesses in the surrounding areas such as Southend, the Thames Gateway and East London.” Opening this month, the new office at Phoenix Place in Basildon marks the twelfth office for Fenn Wright and is a strategic move following its success in Chelmsford, Colchester and Ipswich.
Partner Donald Barber added: “Our team of building surveyors and RICS registered valuers undertake work throughout East Anglia and London, so Basildon is a natural step for us to strengthen our delivery of building surveying, project management and valuation services throughout the southeast.”
Cambridge companies feature amongst ‘most promising’ UK startups
Three Cambridge companies are included in the 2026 lineup of a long-running league of the most promising young UK businesses, the Startups 100 Index. They are: Ethicronics, which provides governments and defence firms with visibility and assurance over their hardware; JUX Food, which turns vegetables and other foods into shelf-stable products using freeze-drying technology and Mimicrete which has developed a self-healing concrete that can repair large cracks quickly. Zohra Huda, editor of Startups.co.uk, said: “Once again, the Startups 100 Index is proof that the UK’s entrepreneurial heartbeat isn’t confined to the capital—it’s booming across the regions….our index is a wake-up call that Cambridge is the new engine of innovation.”
Founder of plus-size retailer recognised as inspiring female entrepreneur
Cambs-based Rebecca Dawson, founder of plus-size outdoor retailer Vampire Outdoors, has been recognised as one of the UK’s 100 most inspiring female entrepreneurs. She founded the business in 2021 and is featured alongside leading female founders from across the country as part of Small Business Britain’s f:Entrepreneur #IAlso100 campaign. She has been recognised for building a fast-growing specialist e-commerce business serving plus-size outdoor enthusiasts. She also co-founded a plus size outdoor community organisation, Every Body Outdoors. Rebecca Dawson said: “Building Vampire Outdoors and Every Body Outdoors has always been about making the outdoors more inclusive, and creating a supportive and joyful community, and this recognition reinforces why that work matters.”
- The importance of a business succession plan for high-net-worth families
- Discover more insights in Brown Shipley’s latest market and investment update: The importance of a Business Succession plan for High-Net-Worth families.
- Investing puts your capital at risk
