BUSINESSES in Fernhill Heath, Hampton Lovett and Cutnall Green could receive an investment boost according to plans published by the Government.

The Government has released the draft map of areas of the UK eligible to receive European regional aid and the Lovett and North Claines ward has been included on this list of so-called Assisted Areas.

Assisted Areas are those areas where regional aid can be offered to undertakings, typically businesses, under European Commission state aid rules. This support is offered to encourage business in these communities to grow, innovate and thrive.

Regional aid in Assisted Areas is typically offered as capital investment for businesses. Programmes that offer this aid include the Regional Growth Fund and the Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative.

MP for Droitwich Spa, Peter Luff, has welcomed the announcement. He said: “I am delighted that the Lovett and North Claines area has been included on the draft map of Assisted Areas. Its identification by the Government as an area where businesses are looking to invest in new premises or machinery should bring real benefits to our local economy.

“This is a draft map though and it is now subject to a consultation. I encourage local people to contribute to this consultation to show just how big the benefits would be locally if businesses around Fernhill Heath, Hampton Lovett and Cutnall Green are eligible for this aid.

“I will be writing to the Business Minister, Michael Fallon, and putting on record my support for the final version of the map to include Lovett and North Claines.”

The consultation runs until Friday, February 7 and can be found at gov.uk/government/consultations/assisted-areas-map-2014-to-2010-stage-2.

A final Assisted Areas map will be submitted to the European Commission for approval in March 2014.