PRIORITY 3

PRIORITY 3: INFRASTRUCTURE, PREMISES AND ENVIRONMENT

Priority 3 relates primarily to physical places.

Rationale

The Objective 2 areas display all the evidence of old industrial areas which have experienced significant decline over the past twenty years or so. There are major brown field sites, a legacy of obsolete, poor quality industrial premises and run down industrial estates with inadequate access for modern day trading requirements.

Aims

Priority 3 aims to enhance the quality and sustainability of the area for the benefit of businesses, residents and employees, creating a place where people wish to live and work and where business will wish to stay and invest.

Activities

Priority 3 supports infrastructure investment and urban regeneration for projects within the Objective 2 areas. These include:

• the provision of high quality business;
• economic infrastructure to help diversify and modernise businesses;
• maximising employment potential.

Measures

Priority 3 includes four Measures:

Three Measures are funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF):

• Measure 3.1: Strategic Sites, Infrastructure and Environment;
• Measure 3.2: Expansion and Improvement of Premises for SMEs;
• Measure 3.3: Marketing.

One Measure is funded by the European Social Fund (ESF):

• Measure 3.4: Ensuring Local Benefit.