New era for i54 as work starts on western extension
Work has started on an extension to a major Midlands business park which could generate around 1,700 jobs and lever in up to £300 million of investment.
It will see i54 South Staffordshire, on the county border with the City of Wolverhampton, expand to provide much-needed sites of different sizes at what is becoming a globally-recognised high manufacturing employment zone.
Machines have moved in to construct the new access road with preparation for factory platforms and services infrastructure works to follow next year. It is anticipated new occupiers could start arriving from 2022.
Planning permission has been granted for up to 100,000 square metres of manufacturing space, which will provide job opportunities for local residents.
The current i54 site has a workforce of around 2,700 people, with half of the jobs held by people living within a ten-mile radius.
City of Wolverhampton Council, Staffordshire County Council and South Staffordshire Council have agreed a funding and delivery strategy to deliver the access road and the first 60 acres of land.
In addition to the 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.
Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership deputy 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 Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Mark Winnington, added:
i54 South Staffordshire has been a huge success for the county council and our nationally recognised partnership with the City of Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire councils.
An extension to the current site, which is in an Enterprise Zone, was a logical move for us as we know there is high demand from businesses from a range of sectors.
This could generate up to 1,700 jobs and lever in up to £300million in private investment. Our aspiration as a council is that these will be higher value well paid jobs.
A fully occupied site could release total business rates of up to £3 million a year, with around half of this reinvested to help fund public services.”
The western extension scheme brings 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 allocated to Pendeford Hall Nature Reserve to help continue its education, health and wellbeing, and personal and social skills development outdoor activities for local communities.
More than £1 billion has so far been invested in i54, with 2,700 people employed by multi-national companies JLR, Moog, ISP, Eurofins, ERA and Atlas Copco with more jobs anticipated as the remaining 12 acres is built out on the existing site. These companies are also soon to be joined by one of the country’s leading site machinery businesses, Morris Site Machinery.
Over 3,500 students have also benefitted from a targeted skills and education programme.
Ninder Johal, Board Member Black Country LEP, said:
Our Enterprise Zones are in some of the most desirable and competitive locations within the Black Country, at the heart of the West Midlands manufacturing and distribution networks, with valuable incentives.
The Black Country LEP is delighted to see work start on the extension at i54 which will result in more jobs and increased investment in the area building on what is already recognised nationally as the most successful Enterprise Zone delivering on our ambition that goods manufactured in the Black Country are sold around the world.”
