A NORTH Yorkshire town has two shots of winning Government support to boost employment and business opportunities.

Selby has been shortlisted for an Enterprise Zone by both local enterprises partnerships (LEP) covering the area, Being an Enterpise Zone would enable the district to attract investment and jobs through discounted business rates and a speeded up planning system.

The Leeds City Region LEP has chosen Selby to be considered for its Enterprise Zone, which was announced by the Government in April.

The other contenders are from the Aire Valley in Leeds, the M62 corridor in Wakefield and Bradford city centre.

Selby’s Olympia Park development is also one of four projects being discussed by the York and North Yorkshire LEP, before it submits an application to Government for an Enterprise Zone.

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty, said the town had a chance of gaining the special recognition, despite facing tough competition.

He said: “This is something that Selby needs.

“We have seen a return to private sector growth and this could be the additional boost the area badly needs.

“There’s some strong competition but I certainly will be battling hard for Selby and making sure the decision makers at the LEP know all our strengths.

“We have fantastic transport links and that infrastructure has already been invested in. We also have a winning workforce in the region and it could have a knock on effect, not just for the immediate area in Selby, but very much the wider region.”

David Fieldsend, chairman of Selby Chamber, said an Enterprise Zone would make Selby a place for employment.

“It would be decidedly good news if we can beat the other three, although it will be difficult considering they’re quite considerable areas.

“We have got lots of space around here, lots of empty warehouses and business premises which would be absolutely ideal for encouraging people to come in.

It could convert Selby from predominantly a commuter town to an employment town.”

The LEP said the sites had been proposed on the basis of criteria of scale, quality, deliverability and cost.

It said the business rates collected from the Enterprise Zone would provide a revenue stream for the LEP to distribute across the city region.

The LEP board will decide the successful proposal in mid-June and the Enterprise Zone will come into force next April.

York and North Yorkshire will decide between proposals from Selby’s Olympia Park, Scarborough Business Park, York Central and the University of York’s Heslington East development on June 3.

The chosen project will be put forward when it applies to the Government to be considered for an Enterprise Zone.