i54 South Staffordshire business park extension ready for new occupiers
Works on a major extension to a Midlands business park have been completed – with new occupiers expected to be announced in the coming months.
A further 60 acres of land has been added to the west side of i54 South Staffordshire, which is on the county border with Wolverhampton.
The scheme – which is being delivered by Staffordshire County Council, the City of Wolverhampton Council and South Staffordshire Council – will create more than 1,000 new jobs.
(L-R): Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP chairman Alun Rogers, Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader Philip White, City of Wolverhampton Council leader Ian Brookfield, South Staffordshire Council leader Roger Lees and Black Country LEP chairman Tom Westley celebrate at the new i54 western extension.
The current i54 business park is occupied by multi-national businesses including Jaguar Land Rover, Moog, ISP and Eurofins.
Following investment of more than £1billion, it has a workforce of around 2,700 people, with half of the jobs held by people living within a 10-mile radius.
In addition to the three councils’ investment, there has been strong support and financial commitment from the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership and Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
The extension includes 850,000sqft of fully-serviced factory platforms ready for new occupiers to build units on for advanced manufacturing, technology, training and innovation.
The project team overcame the challenges of the pandemic to complete the works, which saw more than £15million spent with the local supply chain.
The major works included the construction of a one-kilometre road linking the main i54 site to the new extension, new footpaths and cycleways, structured landscaping to create the manufacturing bases, diverting and improving the public bridleway, drainage works, the planting of 10,000 trees, and the development of a further access road to serve future occupiers.
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership chairman Alun Rogers said:
“Our priority in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire is to ensure we are seen as the place to invest and as a LEP we are supporting growth in our key sector industries.
I54 South Staffordshire is one of our flagship business sites and is nationally acclaimed. We have global leading companies located there and the demand for more space is high.
“An expanded i54 South Staffordshire will play a key part in regional economic growth and the workings of the Midlands Engine.”
Staffordshire County Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and skills Philip White said:
“The i54 South Staffordshire western extension has been a significant project for the county council and our partners. It’s fantastic that it is now complete with the first development set to get underway soon and others to follow in the coming months.
“I’d like to commend the project team for carrying on work safely over the last two years. It means we can start to see benefits to our local economy imminently as it continues its post-pandemic recovery.
“Our long-term economic growth strategy sets out how we plan to develop our key transport corridors, deliver major infrastructure projects and attract investors which support job creation. This helps to generate business rates which in turn supports the funding of public services.
“The completion of the western extension is further demonstration of the strength and success of our partnership with the City of Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire councils.”
The western extension scheme includes a plan to boost employment skills, training and recruitment to local people with a £150,000 contribution – helping them to access the newly generated jobs.
The partners have also agreed a further £500,000 to support and promote sustainable travel activities, and £50,000 has been granted to Pendeford Hall Nature Reserve to help continue and develop its education, health and wellbeing, and personal and social skills development outdoor activities for local communities.
