Fareham Borough Council agrees to push on with £10m Swordfish development at Daedalus

Plans for the Daedalus site in Lee-on-the-Solent continue to progress after councillors approved £374,000 to be spent on a planning application for the development of Swordfish Business Park, an area of the development dedicated to business space.

Executive members at Fareham Borough Council gave the funding the green light during a meeting on Monday, March 23.

Conservative council leader Simon Martin told councillors that the £374,000 figure will be used for the planning application for the business park, as well as infrastructure and construction work. He told the meeting that the next phase of works on Swordfish is estimated to cost £10.1 million.

This figure will be brought before councillors in the future for approval.

Cllr Martin said: “Our vision for Daedalus is for it to become a premier location for aviation, aerospace, engineering and advanced manufacturing businesses, and to be financially sustainable.”

Leader of the opposition, Liberal Democrat Cllr David Hamilton, was at the meeting and described the plans as a “major step forward for the people of Fareham”.

“The continued development of Daedalus is vital for Fareham’s economy,” he added. “Speaking to residents, many don’t appreciate the added value Daedalus provides, and I think it is important to say it also generates those important business rates for the community. “

Cllr Joanne Burton, Conservative for Sarisbury and Whiteley, described Daedalus as “the gift that keeps on giving.”

Speaking on the £10.1m figure, Cllr Connie Hockley, Conservative councillor for Titchfield, described it as “eye-watering”.

She said: “Looking to the future, as good Tories do, I think what we have done over the years is amazing, and it is exciting. It’s exciting, and there is huge potential for employing many of our young people in the future, where many jobs are disappearing in other sectors. I am very happy to support this.”

The approved £374,000 for the planning application will be funded from retained business rates.

The Daedalus site was purchased by the council for £1 in 2015.

For the latest planning applications and public notices visit https://publicnoticeportal.uk/