Thousands of new jobs plans with major expansion of business park
A successful West Midlands business park is set for major expansion in a move that could create thousands of jobs.
Staffordshire County Council is preparing to submit a planning application in the spring for a 60-acre extension to the west of the i54 site – home to Jaguar Land Rover’s £1bn Engine Manufacturing Centre.
The local authority said there was potential to extend over 100 acres – attracting a further £600m of private investment and delivering up to 2,700 more jobs.
The initial planning application, to South Staffordshire District Council, will be for development of the first 60 acres of land between Wobaston Road, Pendeford Hall Lane and the current i54 site.
The i54 site, jointly managed by Staffordshire County Council, South Staffordshire Council and the City of Wolverhampton Council, forms a large part of the Black Country Enterprise Zone.
It has been successful in creating 2,500 jobs with tenants including JLR, Moog, stamp manufacturer ISP, Eurofins, ERA and Tentec. A further 2,100 jobs are anticipated over the next few years.
Cllr Philip Atkins, leader of Staffordshire County Council, said: “The success of i54 South Staffordshire has been outstanding – attracting global leaders in their sectors and thousands of skilled jobs.”
A key part of the site’s success has been its connectivity to the region’s motorway network. In an unusual move, the county council invested in a major scheme to provide a direct access road into the site from the main M54, which runs parallel to the business park.
“It is therefore no surprise about the demand to locate here – and the subsequent need for expansion. i54 South Staffordshire will play a vital part in the Midlands Engine and in the growing productivity of Staffordshire and our neighbours,” added Cllr Atkins.
Cllr John Reynolds, Wolverhampton’s cabinet member for City Economy, said: “i54 is one of the UK’s premier advanced manufacturing business parks. Our joint investment at i54 has secured hundreds of millions of pounds of further investment and has brought thousands of jobs to the area, with 40% of employees living within a ten-mile radius.
“Demand is high for more accommodation from potential investors and the western extension will enable us to deliver that for the benefit of local residents and businesses.”
South Staffordshire Council has already recognised the need for the 100-acre extension and, following extensive consultation last year, has made provision for it in its new Local Plan, which it hopes to adopt later this year.
The expansion of the site is an integral part of the Midlands Engine strategy to maximise the economic potential of the area. It is also backed by both the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and Black Country Local Enterprise Partnerships and local businesses.
The i54 partnership will be holding a public consultation on the proposals.
A public exhibition and drop-in session is being held on Thursday, March 1, between 10am and 7.30pm, at Fordhouses Cricket Club, Wobaston Road.
Residents and businesses can view the proposals on line at www.i54online.com where they can also lodge their views via an online survey.
The intention is for the remaining 40 acres of land, currently owned by Midlands Land Portfolio, Severn Trent’s property vehicle, to be part of a separate application at a later date.
