Work begins on £100m regeneration scheme in Walsall
Work has now started on the first phase of a major £100m regeneration project in Walsall, called SPARK.
Led by Origin, the development will feature two units – one spanning 250,000 sq ft and another 18,000 sq ft.
The 44-acre site was remediated by HBD in collaboration with Walsall Council, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), Black Country LEP and Homes England.
Once the largest undeveloped brownfield site in the Black Country and previously home to the James Bridge Copper Works, it is now being transformed into a business hub.
When complete, the entire project will deliver 620,000 sq ft of space.
This week, Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, visited Walsall to officially kick off the work.
He said: “For more than two decades this site in Walsall has lay derelict and abandoned. But now, following a multi-million-pound investment, it will be a site open for development – bringing in businesses, investment and jobs.
“This former copper works, once a place of heavy industry, is being transformed into a site ready to house modern manufacturing and logistics companies in the region. It will create hundreds of valuable jobs, but most importantly, it will be a catalyst for economic growth in the region.”
Councillor Adrian Andrew, associate leader of Walsall Council said: “It’s inspiring to see the remarkable progress that has been made at SPARK and to see buildings starting to come out of the ground. Discussions around remediating the site started over 2 decades ago so it’s fantastic to see how far we’ve come.
“SPARK is a substantial regeneration scheme for the West Midlands and it will attract significant investment to our borough which will have a broader impact across the Black Country and wider region. Initiatives like this not only revitalise once-derelict land, but also create opportunities and jobs for our local communities. This has been a true partnership approach to resolving these issues with HBD, Homes England, Walsall Council, West Midlands Combined Authority and the former Black Country LEP.”
