Status: Different rules already apply

Nature and timing of the change: The Westminster and Scottish Governments have separately created new enterprise zones in England and Scotland. Each country's new zones benefit from different incentives. Most of the provisions were effective from April 2012, and apply for 5 years.

Below is a note of some key facts on Enterprise Zones for England and Scotland.

Zones and benefited businesses:

For England, there are 24 zones which are largely focussed on 36  types of business.

For Scotland, there are 4 enterprise areas at 15 locations. There are 3 types of business which benefit from the Scottish zones, being life sciences, low carbon and renewables and general manufacturing and growth.

Benefits

Different benefits apply to different zones as between England and Scotland and as between the zones themselves within each country.

In general, the zones benefit from some or all of the following:

• 100% capital allowances for plant and machinery
• 100% rates relief for a period
• simplified and streamlined planning processes and superfast broadband.