Groundbreaking for the first buildings of the Solent Freeport tax jurisdiction

Construction of three new, state-of-the-art units at Dunsbury Park is due to begin in early August – the first new facilities of this type to be built at the Solent Freeport. The new units build on Dunsbury Park’s success as a premier employment location in the South East and offer residents the added benefit of Freeport Tax status.

The three units will total over 77,000 square feet of industrial and manufacturing space and will be ready for corporate occupancy in early 2023.

Users can take advantage of a generous package of Solent Freeport tax incentives that offer a five-year reduction in business tax rates, 100 percent capital allowance for equipment, no stamp duty on leases, and three years of employer social security exemption.

The three new units at the Portsmouth City Council site will aim for the highest environmental standards with a BREEAM Excellent rating – which is achieved by only around 10 per cent of new developments in the UK. Sustainable energy use is a priority in the design of the entire campus, and the new units will be equipped with PV panels and charging stations for electric vehicles.

Councilor Steve Pitt, Portsmouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development, said: “Dunsbury Park represents a fantastic opportunity for businesses to have dual use of the state-of-the-art industrial space and to be part of the Solent Freeport cluster. This is the Solent Freeport’s first fully operational, build-ready control zone and these new units will open up Freeport opportunities for more businesses. Dunsbury Park is a vital asset for the region, generating millions of dollars in revenue for community services, creating thousands of local jobs and helping to provide long-term economic prosperity for businesses and their employees as part of the Solent Freeport.”

Councilor Narinder Bains, Deputy Head of Havant Borough Council, comments: “Dunsbury Park is a priority place to work in Havant; We are working with Portsmouth City Council to advance the benefits of Freeport, which include employment opportunities and improving the skills of Havant residents. The prospect of another three new units is fantastic news.”

The 100-hectare commercial park already houses the global headquarters of outdoor lifestyle clothing brand Fat Face, international biopharmaceutical manufacturer BioPure, logistics giant DPD and Volkswagen specialist Breeze Motor Group. In addition to the three new units, the site can offer custom units ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 square feet.

To learn more go to www.dunsburypark.co.uk.