Work under way at Kingswood extension

Midlands-based developer Opus Land has been given the green light for site clearance to commence in preparation for a new 100,000 sq.ft industrial and commercial work space.

The site has already been pre-let to local catering distributor, First Choice Group, offering the firm much needed space to accommodate its growing business.

The arrival of the first digger coincides with Opus Land appointing MCS as the main contractor. Opus Land's joint managing director, Victoria Smith, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to see our site at Cannock progressing at such a pace.

"Having recently delivered the Veolia HQ and APC regional distribution hub at Kingswood Lakeside, we are particularly pleased to be back in area, helping create space for the region's growing businesses and economy."

Birmingham based property and construction consultancy, Gleeds, is supporting Opus Land with project and cost management advice.

Gleeds director Lindsay McCombe, added: "It is great to see a local firm appointed to undertake the works at Kingswood Lakeside. With construction levels increasing across the Midlands, it is pleasing to see local firms benefitting from the investment being made."

The scheme requires a complex schedule of works in order to overcome challenging ground conditions. This is an area in which the Opus team have a wealth of experience having applied similar treatments to neighbouring plots. The ground issues relate to the site's history as a coal mining area and the associated works mean that completion of the building is expected in the first quarter of 2017.

Staffordshire County Council's economy leader Mark Winnington said: "Seeing work start on site is a significant milestone both for First Choice and Kingswood Lakeside. This is good news for Cannock and for Staffordshire as we're retaining a big company and enabling it to expand, with even more jobs set to be created. Kingswood Lakeside is one of the county's main business sites and one developed by the county council. We're pleased therefore that First Choice decided to relocate there and pleased to have supported the company through securing the LEP funding."

Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership's board director, Simon Marks, added: "It is great to see Local Growth Fund investment in action on this key employment site in Cannock; safeguarding existing jobs and helping to create future employment as the site is developed."