Work starts on major veterinary hospital
Construction is now underway on a veterinary hospital that will create more than 100 jobs.
The hospital will provide a purpose-built facility for IVC Evidensia, a global leader in veterinary care across 19 countries including the UK.
St. Modwen, which is behind the transformation of Longbridge, has worked closely with IVC Evidensia to ensure the building design and specification has sustainability considered throughout and meets the future needs for the business.
The two-storey hospital, set over three acres, will be located adjacent to open parkland which is complimented by foot and cycle paths providing easy access to and from Longbridge Town Centre.
Work on access roads and landscaping is already underway following £20m of infrastructure investment in partnership with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA).
John Turkington, head of referral business development at IVC Evidensia, said: “We are delighted that physical progress is being made at the Longbridge site where our new hospital will become a leading veterinary facility for communities in Birmingham and throughout the West Midlands. Strategically, West Longbridge represents a location that will support the growth of our organisation for years to come while being conveniently situated for pet owners whose pets require treatment at the state-of-the-art facilities.”
Elliot Sellars, development director at St. Modwen, said: “IVC Evidensia will be a valuable addition to West Longbridge Business Park and will benefit the entire region. Longbridge is now home to a number of specialist organisations and we are looking forward to welcoming more in the future. With each new business addition there is further value being added to the local community, the economy and a prosperous future for this historical site. It is a privilege for the entire St. Modwen team to be involved from the start of this regeneration project and seeing elements such as this come to fruition.”
Andy Street, the Mayor of the West Midlands, added: “Work commencing on this significant project represents yet another positive step for the regeneration of Longbridge. The fact that international organisations are choosing Longbridge as a base for operations is testament to the hard work that has been carried out by various parties to ensure that the area is an attractive proposition for businesses now and in the future. I’m proud that the WMCA have been able to make a valuable contribution throughout the project to date and I look forward to seeing further developments over the coming months and years that will further enhance Longbridge adding value for the economy and creating more jobs.”
