Worcester Technology Park gains planning consent

PLANNING permission has been granted for a new technology park in Worcester set to boost the county’s economy and create new jobs.

Worcester Technology Park is targeting technology-rich manufacturing businesses and the completed development has the potential to create 5,500 jobs and an £1,719m GVA over a 10-year period.
 
Cllr Simon Geraghty, deputy leader of Worcestershire County Council with responsibility for economy, skills and infrastructure, said approval meant the scheme could now progress.

“Our number one priority is to champion ‘Open for Business’ and the delivery of the technology park along with other infrastructure schemes, is a key part of the work to ensure that business in the county flourishes,” he said.  
 
“We are determined to move this development forward in order to ensure companies wishing to expand within Worcestershire and those from outside the county who rightly recognise Worcestershire as a great place to do business have an ideal site to meet their needs.  This level of investment demonstrates that we are serious about ensuring Worcestershire’s economy grows and creates the much needed new private sector jobs.”
 
The 70-hectare site is located adjacent to Junction 6 of the M5 and will provide 180-200,000 sqm of office and manufacturing space. The county said it answered the need for suitable land and facilities on a local, national and international perspective.
 
The technology park is a key project within the county’s wider ‘Game Changer’ programme that seeks to prioritise investment in four areas of Worcestershire to drive economic growth. It said creating the supply of employment land was vital to support conditions for business growth.

An additional £10m to complete off-site highway works and on-site services will be funded primarily by the county council with contributions sought from Wychavon District Council and Worcester City Council.  
 
“This approach is intended to remove barriers to the early phases of development and enable the estate to appoint a development partner capable of delivering the technology park vision,” said the council.