The Government has announced that all Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), including SEEDA, will close by 31 March 2012.
Responsibility for economic development and regeneration in England is being passed onto successor bodies, including Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) and central Government departments
Our objective is to ensure a professional and cost effective closure by this date. We have pledged to work closely with our partners, contractors and stakeholders to ensure that the past and future economic benefits of key programmes and assets continue to deliver the greatest economic value for the South East and value for money for the taxpayer.
Please click here for more details about our closure plan, transition arrangements and successor organisations.
In action: Hampshire & Isle of Wight: Key activities
- Innovation & Growth Teams (IGTs)
Three IGT's operate across Hampshire and Isle of Wight providing bespoke support and specialist services to high growth knowledge based companies. They are South and Mid-Hants and IOW, Thames Valley and Basingstoke IGT, and Surrey & North East Hampshire. - Millbrook Technology Campus
Located on the NXP Semiconductors site in Southampton, the Millbrook Technology Campus was officially opened in June 2007 by Sir Digby Jones. The Centre provides flexible business workspace in an environment that supports businesses technological needs with strong links to academic institutions and business support. In 2008 the campus named one of the most enterprising places in Britain, and was created in partnership by NXP, SEEDA, Southampton City Council and the University of Southampton.
Visit their website to find out more. - TRANSPORT
SMART Solent-Midlands Advancement of Rail Transport
To upgrade the rail link from Southampton to the Midlands enabling the rising number of larger 9’6” containers to be economically transported on standard rail wagons throughout the UK. The £52.5million project funded by a range of partners will involve work on 54 structures to increase the amount of space above/by the side of the track – technically known as gauge enhancement. The project will alleviate pressures on the road network reducing damage to the environment and the economy. SEEDA’s funds have contributed to funding engineering studies and developing the business case. - IMPACTE Intermodal Port Access & Commodities Transport in Europe
Bringing together 26 partners from Belgium, England & France IMPACTE is aimed at promoting and facilitating sustainable port based development and distribution of freight. Focusing on the economic, social and environmental benefits project deliverables include a Container Rail Loading Facility at the Port of Southampton and an Intermodal Railhead to connect the Port of Portsmouth to the national railway network. - Cowes Waterfront Initiative
An holistic regeneration project for the Medina Valley that will create jobs, attract investment and bring new facilities to the communities of Cowes, East Cowes and Newport Harbour on the Isle of Wight. - Woolston Riverside
The Woolston Riverside development will transform a redundant shipbuilding facility in Southampton into a vibrant, thriving and sustainable, mixed-use waterfront area with marine business, high quality housing, retail, leisure and community facilities. SEEDA’s investment in this site has secured it for mixed-use waterfront development providing primary infrastructure. - Daedalus
The Daedalus site in Gosport offers the opportunity to provide new employment and business accommodation and to contribute to the economic development of South Hampshire. The Daedalus site transferred to the HCA from SEEDA in September 2011 and has also been assigned Enterprise Zone status by the Government. - Solent Waterfront Strategy
To support the marine sector, SEEDA led the Solent Waterfront Strategy in partnership with Marine South East and the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH). The marine sector contributes significant economic benefits to the local area (£5.5billion), provides 25,000 direct jobs and makes up around 25% of the Solent economy. - Hythe Marine
SEEDA acquired the freehold of the former RAF Hythe, from the Ministry of Defence, at Shore Road, Hythe. The Agency's objective was to bring the site back into use as a Marine Business Park and high growth and specialist engineering companies have occupied the first phase of refurbished buildings. The site was occupied, until September 2006, by the US Army and was used for servicing and repair of military vehicles and vessels from across Europe and is one of the few remaining available waterside employment sites in the Solent area. The site was transferred to the HCA in September 2011 who will take forward these objectives. - Gosporth Business Centre
The £4.6million Gosport Business Centre was recently transferred from SEEDA to the HCA, and was developed in 2004 in partnership with specialist private sector operators Basepoint. It provides 2371sq.metres (25,520 sq.ft) of offices and workshops.
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