Green light for new motorsport innovation park in Norfolk raises hopes for 500 new jobs
Planning approval has been given for a new innovation park at Snetterton in Norfolk as a location for engineering and motorsport businesses with hopes for 500 new jobs. In the first development on the site, a driving simulator tech firm, Ansible Motion, is relocating its hq to Snetterton Heath and building a new simulation centre (photo). Breckland Council approved plans for the park by Motorsport Vision, which owns the 13-hectare site close to the A11 and the nearby motor racetrack. They involve 30,000 sq m of offices, industrial units and motorsport workshop space, alongside a hotel with a café and EV charging facilities. A new primary substation to increase power capacity in the area has been delivered by the council and an innovation centre for start-ups may be built in the future. Jonathan Palmer, chief executive of MotorSport Vision, said: “This is a very exciting time for Snetterton. Welcoming Ansible Motion and pushing forward with wider development plans is a real boost to the local economy. The development will give new life to the circuit and bring new race teams, motor sport businesses and advanced engineering firms to the area.” Ansible Motion’s new development will double the size of the firm’s operations and enable it to house all its R &D design, and manufacturing under one roof as well as creating 35 new jobs.
Robert Todd, partner at architects Feilden+Mawson, which played a key role in designing the masterplan and the new simulation centre, said: “This has been an extremely collaborative approach between the project design team, Breckland planning team and wider consultees”.
Resilient food & drink firms give region’s manufacturers strong start to year
East of England manufacturers have seen a strong start to the year helped by firms in the food and drink sector gearing up for production. A first quarter manufacturing outlook survey from Make UK/BDO shows both output (+28 per cent) and orders (+20pc) well into positive territory. Firms also have high hopes for further improvement with forward-looking balances of +64pc on output and +44pc on orders, significantly more optimistic than the national picture. Peter Harrup, head of manufacturing at BDO in the East of England, said: “The economy in the East of England relies heavily on manufacturing, in particular the strength of the food and drink sector . It’s encouraging to see the region have a strong start to the year, but we cannot be complacent – our manufacturers are resilient but they’re not invincible.” The survey also showed that recruitment intentions and capital expenditure plans were more ambitious at firms in the region than national averages. Make UK says it has started to see a pattern of regional and sector variations across parts of the UK in response to the economic shocks of the last few years, which may become normal in the future. Make UK is forecasting that manufacturing will contract by -0.5pc in 2025, down from -0.2pc previously before growing by 1pc in 2026. Gdp s forecast to grow by 1pc in 2025 and 1.5pc in 2026.
Rising demand for insolvency advice in the region points to tougher times
A sharp increase in demand for insolvency advice and steep fall in the number of new businesses being set up in the region points to toucher times for the local economy. Figures from R3 show that East Anglian insolvency-related activity – which includes liquidator and administrator appointments as well as creditors’ meetings – rose by a third in February compared to January. Meanwhile, the number of new businesses set up in the region fell by 22 per cent to 6,995 in February, down by 22 per cent on the month a year ago. The number of East Anglian businesses in liquidation in the region- which owe money to creditors – increased by 44 pc from January figures, and the number of firms with overdue invoices on their books remained high at 64,202. R3 Eastern chair Hayley Watson (photo) said: “It appears that international trade uncertainty is now impacting heavily at a local level, giving rise to weak business confidence and a slowing of entrepreneurial investment. There will be further pressure on local businesses when the increase in employer national insurance contributions comes into force next month, which may drive firms to pass on rising costs to consumers.”
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New signing at South Cambridge science & tech hub
South Cambridge’s bioscience cluster has been bolstered by a commitment by Advent Bioservices to a 5+5-year lease of lab and office space in the Cadence building at Unity Campus, the flagship science and tech hub developed by Howard Group. The signing means that following practical completion last May, 87 per cent of phase 2 at Unity Campus will be let. Mike Scott, president, Advent Bioservices, said: “… This space will permit Advent to expand and diversify process development, microbiological testing and quality assurance and quality control services to biotech and drug development companies working in the cell and gene therapy sector.”
Ipswich-based housing association secures £32.5 million funding
Ipswich-based Orwell Housing Association has secured a £32.5 million funding deal with NatWest to support its continued growth and development. It will help Orwell to meet its goal to create 100 new homes every year, improve the environmental performance of housing stock and the daily management of more than 4,300 properties across the East. NatWest is one of the largest lenders to the social housing sector in the UK and has recently raised the amount it plans to lend to the sector to £7.5 billion by the end of next year. Orwell has been a customer of the bank for more than 60 years. The association employs more than 800 people and operates in 12 local authority areas, providing affordable housing and supporting vulnerable people.
Building work to start on 180 new homes south of Norwich
Work on 180 new homes in Loddon south of Norwich is set to start after Hopkins Homes, which is owned by private equity group Terra Firma, has acquired the near-19 acre site which secured planning consent last year. The scheme of one-to four bed homes fits with the Greater Norwich Local Plan and will including a children’s play area, public open spaces cycle parking and new tree planting and 59 affordable homes. Richard Shuldham, associate director at Savills in Norfolk, said: “We are pleased to have completed the sale of this important site and we look forward to seeing how the scheme progresses – providing an exciting opportunity to deliver sustainable growth in the shape of high quality residential use and significantly contributing to the supply of much-needed new homes in the local area.”
Leadership changes at Norfolk visitor attraction group
New leadership is taking over at one of the region’s leading visitor attraction groups. Adam Goymour (photo, left) has been promoted to managing director of Roarr! a dinosaur-themed venue at Lenwade, Norfolk and Ben Francis to park director. Together with Roarr!, the Goymour family created Banham Zoo in 1968 and Applewood Countryside Park, both in south Norfolk. Martin Goymour (right), who turns 75 in May, becomes chairman at Roarr! alongside being MD of Goymour Group. Adam Goymour said: “Since 2014, we have invested around £10 million into Roarr! …My vision is to continue to lead a business that has a real purpose in delivering good value experiences out as the UK’s leading dinosaur-themed visitor attraction, and maintains profitability despite the challenging economic environment that we’re operating in.” Adam Goymour is also a director at Goymour Properties, parent company of Applewood Countryside Park which remains under the operational direction of sister Kiera Goymour.
Hq building let in Ipswich
The letting of an hq building Ransomes Europark on the outskirts of Ipswich to DPL Group for a 10-year term has been arranged by Penn Commercial. Penn has also been appointed to manage the property at 34 Bluestem Road. Managing director Vanessa Penn said: “We are pleased to have let this statement property to DPL Group Limited. It occupies a prominent position on Ransomes Europark and offers a good-sized, secure yard, workshop and open-plan offices, and is strategically located next to the A14, close to the Ports of Ipswich and Felixstowe, and a short distance from Sizewell C.” The two-storey provides almost 9,950 sq ft of office/workshop space with 0.6 acre secure yard. Penn Commercial acted for the RNLI to dispose of the property in a freehold sale to a private investor in late 2024.
New entrepreneurial and SME services team launched
Grant Thornton UK has launched a new team to deliver its national entrepreneurial and SME services offering. Located in the firm’s Chelmsford office, Sally Harman and Archie Rwavazhinji, who were recently promoted to directors, will head the team in East Anglia working alongside national leads Tim Taylor and Rob Thomson, who are also based in the Cambridge and Chelmsford offices. The new service aims to provide entrepreneurs and fast growth businesses with the support to achieve their goals and involves regular meetings with a local partner. It covers areas such as attracting and retaining talent, leveraging automation and AI, expanding internationally, global regulatory compliance and tax-efficient exits.
Chairman of Suffolk-based maltsters steps down
Paul Wells, chairman of Stowmarket-based Muntons, one of the country’s leading maltsters, is stepping down after more than 34 years’ service. He was appointed chairman in 2013 and since he joined as a director in 1990, Muntons has gone from two sites to four (including one in Thailand) and is now selling to customers in 60 countries, and nearly tripled its malt production to 250,000 tonnes. Chris Thomas, a senior independent non-executive director since June 2023 with wide experience in the food sector, will be nominated as new Muntons chairman.
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