LANCASHIRE’S troubled Enterprise Zone at Samlesbury is to get a new tenant, specialist transport and supply company Wincanton, bringing 70 jobs.

It will be the first non-BAE Systems company using the controversial multi-million ‘Skills City’ development next to the aircraft firm’s factory.

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Lancashire Enterprise Partnership chairman Edwin Booth hailed the news as evidence that the zone was now fulfilling its potential.

In December the Lancashire Telegraph revealed Growth Minister Penny Mordaunt and her skills counterpart Greg Clark had branded the scheme ‘the worst in the country’.

They told Mr Booth, who heads the partnership behind the project, the government had ‘lost confidence’ in its ability to ‘deliver the enterprise zone’.

Since then work has started on the scheme, expected to create 6,000 hi-tech jobs, with BAE Systems indicating it will occupy part of the site next to its military aircraft factory.

Now the company has appointed Wincanton as the prime supplier for its Military Air and Information operations, building on the existing services provided by the specialist logistics company and creating 70 jobs.

The deal will extend a 10-year relationship and provide a wide range of activities such as goods management and inspection, storage and packing, and transportation to BAE’s Samlesbury and Warton sites.

Wincanton will also become the operator of a new purpose built Defence Logistics Centre, due to be completed in 2016, which will see the firm become the first non BAE Systems business operating in the Samlesbury Enterprise Zone.

Its existing services delivered from Wincanton’s Blackburn site will be unaffected.

Mr Booth said: “Wincanton establishing a base at the Samlesbury site demonstrates the Enterprise Zone is fulfilling its role as a catalyst for economic growth by supporting the entire aerospace supply chain.

“I’m confident Wincanton’s presence will stimulate other businesses in the aerospace sector to consider Lancashire.”