Aerial view of Western Extension (theBusinessDesk.com)
The advanced business park, i54 (located in South Staffordshire) has moved a step closer to more commercial development at the site. Planning permission was granted back in January of this year for a 60-acre extension - this will expand upon the current 238-acre site to accommodate for better access and more commercial facilities (offering units from 100,000ft² up to 1,000,000ft²).
The extension is set to hit the market soon with property agents being appointed to advertise the development site.
Commercial agents, JLL and Bulleys have been appointed to market a 60-acre expansion at i54, in South Staffordshire (located on the M54, 5 miles from the M6 and M6 Toll). i54 is one of the UK’s most significant sites for advanced manufacturing, with a range of sophisiticated manufacturing taking place at the business park.
Richard James Moore, Director of the Industrial & Logistics team at JLL, said that this new opportunity at i54 allows the West Midlands to remain at the forefront of advanced manufacturing in the UK.
“i54 is an important strategic site - having already attracted top international companies including Jaguar Land Rover, Moog Aircraft Group, ERA Home Security, Atlas Copco, Eurofins Food Testing, International Security Printers, and Morris Site Machinery.”
i54 was founded in 2005 and has since grown to become a hotbed for business and investment in the Midlands. The South Staffordshire business park is home to numerous international companies - generating thousands of jobs within the region. The new Western Expansion is expected to generate 1,500 more jobs.
The new i54 extension will be accessed via a dedicated junction off the M54 - linking to the motorway network via the M6, M6 Toll and A449.
Noel Muscutt, Partner at Bulleys, commented on the move:
“Located at the centre of the UK, it’s connectivity is hard to rival. Infrastructure and access works to open up the full 100-acre extension are well underway and will see the delivery of the first 60 acres of serviced plots by June 2021.”
“There aren’t many sites in the region that could accommodate up to one million square foot and we’re expecting there to be strong interest from further advanced manufacturing, technology, training or innovation-related companies.”
John Flynn of Staffordshire County Council, and David Sabine, Director of Cadence Management (who have been commissioned through the City of Wolverhampton on behalf of the partnership), said good progress was being made on access.
“Our appointed contractors Amey and their supply chain are on programme to deliver the access road, bridleway diversion and site clearance early in the New Year, with the plateauing and service infrastructure for the development due to start in June.” said Sabine.
“It’s great to see work on the extension commencing, having been working on delivery and funding strategy over a number of years - which has now obtained full approval from the three councils as well as support from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and Stoke on Trent & Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.”
The i54 site is a partnership between Staffordshire County Council, the City of Wolverhampton Council and South Staffordshire Council, with the new 60-acres of development delivering up to 1,700 high-value manufacturing jobs for local people.