Warton Enterprise Zone
The Warton Enterprise Zone is located adjacent to BAE Systems’ main air sector site which has some of the most advanced aerospace engineering, manufacturing and test capabilities anywhere in the world. Making Warton EZ a natural hub for advanced engineering and manufacturing ventures, and for those developing future aviation and space related technologies. BAE Systems’ presence and continued investment at the Enterprise Zone has fostered a robust and thriving regional supply chain. FalconWorks® - the Air sector’s centre for advanced and agile research and technology development - escalates the EZ into an environment where new projects and ventures will thrive in their ambitions to develop future aviation and space technology. Collaboration and partnering opportunities with academic and industrial leaders, creating innovative and enabling future technologies are all possible at Warton EZ.
Warton Enterprise Zone
Sector focus: Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering
Warton EZ is globally recognised for its extensive heritage at the forefront of innovative technology and advanced engineering and manufacturing, since its establishment as an air base in 1940.
84 years later and the air base has evolved, it’s seen the iconic Eurofighter Typhoon and Hawk aircraft developed at what is now the BAE Systems site, and future aerospace technologies continue to be developed on site including Tempest – the next generation combat aircraft for the UK, alongside new partnerships and collaborations, utilising advanced robotics and artificial intelligence.
The site offers the opportunity for projects and ventures to locate alongside BAE Systems in a unique supportive environment, which includes:
• Second longest active runway in the UK
• Surrounded by a diverse environment including low population density areas, agricultural areas and open water
• Open air environments to replicate example use cases
• Potential hangar capacity with sufficient ceiling height for safe indoor testing
• Access to existing aviation testing facilities, industrial and academia expertise and orientation to a defence and aviation customer base
Representing the UKs largest concentration of aerospace employment, Lancashire is home to the fourth largest global aerospace cluster, complemented by a strong engineering and manufacturing sector, which supports 85,000 jobs and 500+ companies across the aerospace supply chain. With its strategic location, Warton EZ has the perfect eco-system for aviation, space and other sensitive sectors, including:
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Autonomy and un-crewed aerial vehicles
• Space
• Sustainable air transport
• Hybrid air vehicles and electric air products
• Sensors and training solutions
• Robotics
The Warton Aviation Enterprise Zone heralds an era of high quality commercial development that will attract global knowledge intensive businesses. The development of the Enterprise Zone is to be managed and co-ordinated through the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership in association with Landowner BAE Systems.
Phase 1
Phase 1 which comprises 8.5ha areas within the North Enterprise Zone known offers flexible opportunities for a range of unit sizes (B1, B2, B8) for which the Masterplan creates a flexible and deliverable framework that can respond to a variety of development and user demands. As user requirements arise, various development and reuse of existing building opportunities can be provided. The Warton Enterprise Zone Phase 1 Site will help to deliver world class facilities for advanced engineering and manufacturing ensuring that the objectives of the Enterprise Zone as a national and international focus for these sectors are realised.
Western Zone
The western zone can provide industrial type of development and the eastern zone can provide office, research & development and light industrial type development –through refurbishment & redevelopment – this strategy provides for a flexible response to the various sectors that may have an interest in locating on the site.
Southern Zone
The southern side of the site includes areas within this zone with existing buildings which have been used for office and training, with refurbishment these would be suitable accommodation particularly for SME’s and business start-ups and they could be available in the short term to interested parties. The planned creation of attractive, contemporary ‘Gateways’ at access points to the estate and at individual plot entrances will provide a distinctive and recognisable identity for the Enterprise Zone.
Working in Close Partnership
Partnering with academic and industrial leaders we develop new technologies to support our future product strategies. BAE Systems is a global defence, aerospace and security company employing around 82,500 people worldwide. Our Military Air & Information business is based predominantly in the North of England and is the hub of our expertise in the design, manufacture and assembly of military combat aircraft and military training aircraft, as well as providing training, support and information services for our global customers. We have a long history of being experts in the development, delivery and support of military aircraft and currently work on world-leading aircraft including the Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II and the next generation of military aircraft, such as our unmanned technology demonstrator, Taranis. Our people are dedicated to help safeguard and enhance our customers’ military capabilities.
