COUNCIL chiefs are set to extend a fast-track planning scheme which has helped bring in millions of pounds of investment into Kidderminster.

Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet will consider a proposal to keep the Local Development Order (LDO), which allows businesses to develop in an area without the need for planning permission, at its meeting on July 14.

In August 2012, approval was given to introduce the LDO for the South Kidderminster Enterprise Park area that covers Stourport Road and Worcester Road.

This was part of the council’s plans to encourage new businesses into the area and create more jobs.

The success of the scheme has prompted the plan to extend it for a further three years through to 2018. So far, the LDO has seen over 40,000 sq ft of new business premises created, worth over £20m in inward investment.

The Council hopes that by extending the life of the LDO, businesses will continue to take up development opportunities in the vacant land and buildings that are still available in the area.

The area also benefits from Assisted Area status where businesses have access to grant assistance not available elsewhere.

Firms that have benefitted from the LDO include Amada, whose £5m refurbishment has helped safeguard 50 jobs and Beakbone Ltd who invested £1.2m on an extension to their existing building.

Oakleaf Commercial Services is currently constructing a new £1.5m depot that will give the company the scope to expand in future.

And earlier this year, Specsavers announced plans for a £12m development that will see more than 200 jobs created in the area.

Councillor John Campion, Wyre Forest District Council’s Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration said: “The introduction of the LDO has stimulated investment interest as we intended it to.

“We’ve seen existing businesses such as Beakbane and Amada extend their premises as well as new building encouraged on vacant sites such as Oakleaf at Finepoint Way and the soon to commence Specsavers development at the former Romwire site.

“All these have been possible without needing to get planning permission, which is sometimes seen as an impediment to business growth.

“We want to be different in Wyre Forest, we want to stand out from the crowd as the natural choice for businesses to invest in new development and the LDO is a way of doing this.

“We are creating hundreds of new jobs that are vital for the residents of the district as well as breathing new life into our key employment corridors.”

Any business interested in taking advantage of the LDO should contact the NWedR team on 01562 732928 or visit the website www.nwedr.org.uk for more information.