Green light for £350m employment park which could create 6,500 jobs

Plans for a major employment site in Minworth which could create up to 6,500 jobs and attract leading manufacturing and logistics companies have been given the green light.

IM Properties (IMP), one of the UK’s largest privately-owned property companies, will develop 66.5 hectares of employment space and infrastructure at the site in partnership with Birmingham City Council, following its selection as preferred development partner.

Peddimore will deliver up to 6,500 direct jobs and up to 3,000 supply chain jobs across the wider region to support the site’s future occupiers in the manufacturing and logistics sectors.

Kevin Ashfield, UK development director for IMP, said: “Peddimore will be a best in class employment park for manufacturing and logistics and a development that is a great place to work and visit.  It is set to create a new industry benchmark for its high-quality design and landscape and an approach which focuses on employee wellbeing and sustainability.

“We are delighted with the decision, which is the culmination of considerable hard work and collaboration over the planning phase with range of local stakeholders.  We remain fully committed to continuing to work in partnership with the council, residents, community groups and businesses to ensure the scheme delivers long-term economic benefits.  Our extensive social value programme, which will accelerate with the construction phase, is already helping to fulfil our ambition of delivering a lasting legacy for the local community.”

Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Peddimore is one of the country’s best connected and positioned development sites and I’m delighted that planning permission has been approved.  It has the potential to be a world-class employment estate where businesses choose to invest, operate and grow, creating thousands of skilled jobs in the city along with training opportunities for local people.

“The high-quality design and landscaping on the site will help integrate the development into the surrounding area, which is important for the local community, and it will be supported by major investment in the transport network.  I’m also really pleased to see IM Properties’ commitment to a social value programme.”

Site-wide infrastructure works are due to begin this winter, with the first bespoke buildings ready for occupation by summer (Q3) 2021.

Peddimore will include a 4km pedestrian and cycle path planned to circle the site.

As well as the construction of new infrastructure, including a grade signal-controlled roundabout on the A38 and a new traffic-free bridge over the A38, IMP will contribute to the highways and public transport improvements needed to mitigate the impacts of the development in its early stages, as well as fund other transport works as the project progresses.

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