Worcestershire LEP to continue delivering 20-year growth strategy for county Blackfinch Property

The Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) will continue operations in support of the delivery of its 20-year strategy for the county.

The LEP Board, chaired by Paul Walker MBE, has reassured the local business community that despite the uncertainty surrounding the future of LEPs at a national level, the Worcestershire LEP will continue to develop its delivery priorities for 2023-24 and beyond, across the important areas of skills, business support and innovation.

The Worcestershire LEP runs a number of programmes including the Worcestershire Growth Hub, BetaDen, the Inspiring Worcestershire Careers Hub, Worcestershire Apprenticeships.

Paul Walker MBE, Chair of the Worcestershire LEP, said: “ The Worcestershire LEP board and its partners are united in their determination to continue delivering value in support of Worcestershire and its future prosperity. This is evidenced by the unanimous decision for the Worcestershire LEP to continue with its operation.

“We have a strategy in place which all the partners are involved with and we are now able to confidently plan the delivery of programmes and projects.”

completes £2.3m development loan for sustainable housing in Droitwich

Blackfinch Property, the fast-growing lender to the UK property market, has provided £2.3 million funding to a special purpose vehicle (SPV) of Dunedin Homes which will develop seven new homes in Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, each fitted with environmentally friendly features.

Under the terms of the 22-month deal Gloucester-based Blackfinch Property (via its property development company, Lyell Trading Limited) - part of investment manager Blackfinch Group - will fund the land acquisition and construction of seven homes, exiting the deal once all homes have been sold.

Each house being built by Dunedin Homes will be fitted with vehicle charging points, solar panels and a biodisc treatment plant. Each boundary will also be planted to achieve biodiverse ecology and the dwellings are expected to achieve an Energy Performance Certificate Rating B.