Big inward investment win for Solihull as Chinese car maker Changan commits to 80,000 sq ft

THE Chinese car manufacturer Changan has bought 80,000 sq ft of offices at Birmingham Business Park in Solihull.

While it has been known since September that Birmingham Business Park was to be the destination of Changan’s West Midlands operation, following a long search, it was thought at that stage that it would only take 24,000 sq ft of space.

But now it has completed the acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, of a 80,000 sq ft phase of Parkside offices at the business park.

The site will form the worldwide HQ of its powertrain and research & development divisions, housing approximately 200 staff, and consolidating existing offices in Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire.

Changan considered several different locations across the West Midlands, including Birmingham city centre and Coventry.

The car manufacturer, whose notable joint ventures include ChanganFord and ChanganSuzuki, has big plans for the UK market.

Dr Xiaoyu Zhang, general manager of Changan UK, said: “We are committed to turning Changan into the world’s leading automotive company and establishing advanced technology R&D facilities across the globe is fundamental to our plans for growth.

“Our new site at Birmingham Business Park in the UK will become a world-class powertrain research centre.

“This new location will strengthen our commitment to the UK market by promoting the growth and sustainability of Changan UK, developing links with local universities and creating new jobs for the region.”

Having purchased a whole single phase at Parkside, Changan now owns buildings 3500, 3600, 3700, 3800 and 3900.

It has been granted planning permission to demolish and rebuild 3600 Parkside to create a new, state-of-the-art research and development centre, or “test cell”.

The remaining units of 3800 and 3900 Parkside will provide Changan with space for future expansions of its work force at the site.

The properties were sold by Birmingham property agency KWB which acted on behalf of it client, Moorfield Corporate Recovery.

KWB partner Mark Robinson said: “This is fantastic news for Birmingham Business Park and the automotive industry in the West Midlands. After over two years of discussions with various stakeholders, we are delighted that Changan chose to consolidate its UK operations at Parkside offices at Birmingham Business Park, Solihull. 

“This represents the start of a significant amount of investment from Changan on their future expansion, within Solihull.”