Planning consent has been secured for a strategic new business and industrial development adjacent to Southampton Airport.

The scheme to develop Navigator Quarter (NQ) with 92,000 sq m of high quality employment space, associated infrastructure works and a new access road, was granted, subject to conditions, by Eastleigh Borough Council.

Navigator Quarter, Eastleigh’s main site for employment growth, is a key part of Solent Freeport which was created to help deliver economic growth, new jobs, improved infrastructure and greater prosperity across the region.

The NQ proposals were taken forward by a partnership between blocwork, a joint venture between bloc and Network Rail, and Southampton International Airport Limited (SIAL).

Both blocwork (Eastleigh) LLP and SIAL as landowners have committed their sites to the Solent Freeport to support this major opportunity to transform the Solent region, one of Britain’s trade gateways to the world.

NQ is designated as a Tax Site under Solent Freeport to support growth in low carbon, industrial, logistics and tech-related sectors and this is mostly because of the site’s strategic position next to air, road, rail and sea connections.

Eligible businesses in freeport tax sites enjoy a range of tax incentives, such as enhanced capital allowances and relief from employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) for new employees. Relief is also available on Stamp Duty Land Tax in Freeports.

The Navigator Quarter site is allocated for employment development in Eastleigh Borough Council’s Local Plan – meaning that the council wants to see new jobs created in this location to support the balanced growth of Eastleigh and the local area.

The site benefits from excellent transport links by air, road, rail, and sea. It is well-placed with direct access to Southampton Airport, strategic road networks (Junction 5 of the M27 and the M3), and Southampton Airport Parkway railway station, as well as close proximity to Southampton’s port network.

Steve Thurston, Head of Planning & Development at AGS Airports Ltd and a Director at Solent Freeport Consortium Ltd, said: “ This exciting development alongside Southampton International Airport has been years in the making and represents a fantastic opportunity for employment and growth in our region with great air, road, rail and sea connections.”

Planning documents previously explained that the development will meet the needs of modern business and create significant economic opportunity for the region, including the potential to support approximately 3,000 new jobs.

Navigator Quarter will transform approximately 110 acres of land adjacent to Southampton Airport into a vibrant location for local, national and international businesses to invest in and call their home.”

The Freeport and the landowner partnership have created a once in a generation opportunity to deliver the site because both key landowners are acting in concert which is essential to enable access to the site.

The allocation of seed funding and Business Rates retention support under the freeport programme will subsidise the required enabling and infrastructure costs.

It represents an opportunity to create a high-quality sustainable development at the Navigator Quarter that will make best use of the Solent Freeport’s status and help boost both local and regional economic growth.